I hadn’t thought about this incident in decades until I came across a website hawking Elvis Presley’s .357 Magnum for $275,000 and noting that he bought it at a certain sporting goods store in Beverly Hills. That’s when I knew I had to tell this story.

I was 18 years old in 1970. I used to enjoy wandering through the ritzy shops in Beverly Hills looking at cameras, art supplies, and other expensive stuff. On November 6th of that year, I dropped into Kerr Sport Shop (AKA Kerr's Sporting Goods), purveyor of high-end sports equipment.

In the far corner of the store was their gun department. Behind a wall of glass stood dozens of expensive shotguns and hunting rifles, before which was a long glass display case filled with handguns.

I was leaning over the display case admiring the finely engraved revolvers when I felt a looming presence step beside me to my right. I glanced up and was rather surprised to see Elvis Presley with his perfectly coiffed slick pompadour and long sideburns wearing an even slicker black suit with its high collar that was Elvis' trademark. Coming from a showbiz family myself (my grandfather was Moe Howard of The Three Stooges) I didn’t scream or ask for his autograph. Nonetheless, he struck a charismatic silhouette towering beside me, and I did experience a little bit of “Wow!”

*Elvis and his Smith & Wesson .357 Magnum Model 19-2*

Elvis bent over the display case and began perusing the very same handguns I had been looking at. We briefly chatted about how beautiful the engraving was on one particular gun, a magnificent gold-inlaid and embellished Smith & Wesson .357 Magnum Model 19-2 double action revolver.

*Elvis' Smith & Wesson .357 Magnum Model 19-2 revolver*

Elvis asked the salesman if he would take it out of the case and the man dutifully complied. After a closer examination and going through the usual motions of holding the gun out, sighting down its barrel, and testing its action, Elvis told the salesman he wanted to buy it. The salesman happily began to write up the purchase. I say happily because if I recall correctly the tag on the pistol said $3,500, a very high price at the time considering a non-engraved S&W .357 mag sold for $150.

Now, so far none of this is headline news. As noted above, there are numerous blog posts and websites documenting the many handguns Elvis purchased at Kerr's, how he gave this engraved Model 19-2 as a gift to Vice President Spiro Agnew (who returned it to Elvis after being investigated for accusations of extortion, bribery, and income-tax violations), and how it recently went on the market for $275,000. But what certainly is news, and what likely no one else in the world knows but me (assuming the salesman has gone on to the happy hunting ground), is how Elvis actually received this gun.

When the purchase form was completed and Elvis had paid the salesman, he asked if he could take the gun with him. The salesman apologized profusely and informed Elvis that there was a waiting period and that he was barred by California law from taking the gun at that time.

“But I’m Elvis Presley!” said a nonplussed Elvis.

The salesman was very sympathetic to Elvis’ argument yet insisted he could not give him the gun. But this did not deter The King.

Elvis calmly slid his beringed hand beneath his lapel and removed a .45 Colt automatic. He explained that he had a concealed carry permit and that considering the fact he was already carrying, what was the point of enforcing a waiting period? The salesman had no answer for that. “Just a moment,” he said, then scurried off through a doorway to the back.

A few moments later the salesman returned with the store manager. I’m not sure if he found a loophole in the law or not, and don’t recall if he asked for an autograph, but he gave Elvis the revolver. Elvis thanked the man, slid the gun into his shoulder holster, then left the building.

It was clear that Kerr Sport Shop knew who was king.

***

Elvis Presley White House gun; Elvis Presley firearms; Elvis Presley pistol; Elvis Presley’s guns; Elvis Presley gun Nixon.

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