The annual Fort Dodge Rifle and Pistol Club’s gun show brought in a great deal of variety Saturday.

At the show, which continues today at the Webster County Fairgrounds, dealers from across the state offered everything from older, traditional rifles, to engraved commemorative additions and brand-new custom firearms.

“These are custom made right here in Carroll,” said Ricky Lueders, showing off some of the Volquartsen rifles at the booth for Shooter’s Outlet of Arcadia.

Lueders explained the different types of barrels available – the “snake fluted” stainless steel barrel with its wavy pattern, the i-fluted rifles, and those with carbon fiber.

And custom rifles weren’t the only thing for sale made in Iowa.

Erin Lindstrom, of Eagle Grove, was there touting Steel Ridge Ammunition, made in a little town called Allison near Waterloo.

Lindstrom gets to lots of gun shows, she said, but only recently started representing this company.

“The good thing about the small shows, versus the big ones in Des Moines, is you get to know the local people,” she said. “You don’t feel like you have to buy from the bigger companies.”

Lindstrom was hoping she’d have time to look around the show, although her booth was keeping her busy.

“Ammo is always in demand,” she said.

She knew what she was looking for, too.

“A good deal,” Lindstrom said.

The show itself is a good deal for the Fort Dodge Rifle and Pistol Club. It’s their biggest fundraiser of the year, said club member Mike Gimer, of Lohrville.

“On Saturdays, it’s like this all day,” Gimer said of the packed crowd.

It’s hard to say exactly how many attended, but Gimer said he’d estimate about 2,500 to 3,000 came in the door on Saturday.

There were about 80 vendors, said the club’s president, Dr. Roger Howland.

Gimer said the funds help the club maintain the insurance and other expenses for the Fort Dodge indoor gun range.

“It’s a good service for the community,” Gimer said. “Those who want to protect themselves better practice.

“If you think you can just buy a gun and be protected, but never practice – you’re not,” he added. “You’re better off not having a gun.”

The range is also used by area 4-H shooting clubs, Howland said.

“We have two 4-H groups from Fort Dodge and a group in Scranton,” he said. “The Boy Scouts use it several times a year.”

The 4-H members also run the show’s concession stand.

People shopping for younger kids could buy pellet guns at the show, as well. Or for kids ready for the next step, there were smaller-sized youth rifles.

“It’s a good way to get started, and it’s fun to shoot tin cans,” said Elaine Irlbeck, of Manning. “We want to teach the kids to be responsible and know how to handle a gun.”

Irlbeck was there helping husband Leroy Irlbeck, owner of Irlbeck’s Gun Shop, who also had special commemorative rifles engraved with images.

“We have one to soldiers, and one for firemen,” Leroy Irlbeck said. “We used to sell one for the American farmer, but we can’t get that one anymore. … People like to display them.”