Sounds like you had your transaction "pended", this would have happened at any FFL dealer when you attempted to buy those guns. It dosen't matter that you were buying 2 handguns at the same time. In Washington they have a state mandated 5 business day waiting period for handgun purchases, unless you have a CHL. Your "delayed/pended" transaction was held up by the local law enforcement agency where you (the purchaser) reside, most likely dragging their feet over the hollidays or the person in charge of running the background checks for firearms purchases was still on vacation or trying to get caught up from being on vacation. Legally FFL dealers can release to you the firearms after 3 business days of "no resolution" to the background check. Matt Selders posted that most big chain stores usually have a protection policy for their legal interests and Cabelas I'm sure is no different here. Trust me that any dealer would love to sell you 2 handguns and listen to the cha ching of the register, however they still have to play by the rules and cover their own a$$ too. Now you have your CHL you shouldn't have this problem again, since having said license excuses you from the processes that hold up handgun transfers through Washington dealers.