[Still Thinking]

To some extent, but only FFL's are required to run NICS even at a gun show (at least if you live in a free state), and in my experience, the FFL's are all local shop owners anyway.

So give the guy a business card with the model and S/N written on the back, and in three days he shows up at the store and picks it up.

[Truth29]

The big shows (One is coming up April 15 - 17 in the DC area) have hundreds of dealers with many from out of town. It is true there are local dealers as well, but an NCIS shutdown would be a real pain for all concerned.