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TOP STORY OF THE DAY, brought to you free by WICU: The Outpost will keep serving community, but at a slower pace
THIS STORY WAS CORRECTED ON THURSDAY, OCTOBER 21, 2021.
The Outpost, 2 East National Avenue, Brazil, is not closing.
“It’s just changing locations,” said Duane Butt, who is planning to slow down and enjoy retirement. “Basically, I’m just moving down to my home [2623 West County Road 300 North]. I just built a new shop there.”
Butt plans on continuing the reloading and gunsmithing on Tuesdays and Thursdays by appointment through the shop’s email account and Facebook page.
“We won’t have a phone number anymore,” he said. "I was doing it out of my house before we started here.”
Butt, along with John Lee and George Riddell, have enjoyed having The Outpost downtown in Brazil.
“Being a little more localized and central to the public; it’s been a lot of fun, but we’re all ready to retire,” said Butt.
Riddell hasn’t completely decided yet, but Lee agrees.
“I’m going to bow out,” said Lee. “I’m going to retire fully. Time to enjoy the grandkids. I’ve got 10 acres at home now to take care of.”
The COVID-19 pandemic has created limitations on supplies at all levels, including at The Outpost.
“Since everything went south, we can’t get primer for loading. We turned a guy away today,” said Lee.
“With all the ships stuck out in the ocean, not delivering products, it’s hard,” said Butt. “We can’t get gunpowder or primers.”
Butt and Lee said a company around since 1802 supplying black powder for gunsmithing recently shut down.
“Lots of things are cascading down right now and affecting in ways nobody ever thought would happen for all types of businesses,” said Butt. “And we can’t get ammunition most of the time.”
The history of guns is important, according to Butt, because it is a big part of America’s history. Yes, guns are weapons, but they have also provided food and safety for settlers’ homes. This is why Butt is active in Cowboy Action Shooting and a member of Clay County’s Pine Ridge Regulators.
Butt said there are approximately 10 million “new shooters” since 2020 and recently in 2021.
“That’s new shooters in addition to what we had before,” he said. ”I’m building a flintlock right now with like a colonial gun, probably around 1850s era now; I enjoy doing that.”
The Outpost has experienced record sales recently, but the current shortages have taken a toll.
“Our sales have been fantastic, record-setting, but COVID-19 may have exasperated the situation that’s been building for a few years,” said Butt.
“So I’m going to keep busy doing a little gunsmithing and reloading on the side. Be open Tuesdays and Thursdays from 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Like if somebody needs something? I can’t imagine there’d be an emergency; I’m just saying, but if they needed something, they could get ahold of me through email.”
For more information or any questions, contact Butt at dbutt2buckshot@gmail.com.
NOTE: In the Tuesday, October 12th edition of The Brazil Times, The Outpost crew was featured in a story about the business changing locations.
While excited about the picture and front-page story, they were laughing when they told Times Reporter Ivy Jacobs she got a few things wrong.
Duane Butt doesn’t have an “S” in his name (and he doesn’t use that “M” name.)
The new store hours at 2623 West County Road 300 North, Brazil, will be 10-4 on Tuesday and Thursdays.
The shop will not have a phone number, but people can get ahold of Duane through email at dbutt2buckshot@gmail.com to make appointments.
Butt plans to continue reloading and gunsmithing although there is a current primer (not primary) shortage.
Duane Butt, John Lee, and George Riddell were very kind, and understanding about the mistakes, and wished Jacobs a speedy recovery.
Jacobs recently had a back injury and has learned a lesson about writing stories while in extreme pain and taking pain medication.