Steyr AUG A3 SA “1USA002” — US-Prototype Bullpup, Lettered Provenance

This is a rare, early U.S.-production AUG A3 SA bullpup with serial 1USA002— the very first unit completed stateside after the 1994 federal ban era. It carries a documented provenance letter noting Austrian-sourced components with U.S. barrel/receiver work performed to meet 922(r) requirements, and confirming the significance of this low serial number.

The platform features the classic compact bullpup layout with integrated vertical foregrip, full-length Picatinny top rail, and a threaded muzzle equipped with a brake. Condition appears excellent overall with only light handling marks visible in close-ups. For the serious collector or AUG historian, this piece represents a milestone in the model’s stateside story and would anchor any modern-military collection.

Provenance: Includes authentication from Steyr’s former U.S. CEO stating 1USA002 was among the first two U.S. builds and tied to the restart of domestic production; details the Sabre Defense involvement and later transition.

Specs

September 11, 2025

This letter is to certify and authenticate that this AUG A3 SA, serial number 1USA002, is
one of the very first two AUG rifles produced in the United States after the Federal
Assault Weapons Ban that was enacted and signed by President Bill Clinton on
September 13, 1994. The other rifle is serial number 1USA003, and it already resides
in a private collection. The majority of parts were from Austria, however, Steyr Arms,
Inc’s ownership sub-contracted with Sabre Defense, out of Nashville, TN and
headquartered in England, to produce the barrel and receiver to satisfy U.S. Code 18,
Section 922(r) regulations.

The first two rifles, were each put through a 10,000 round endurance test by Austrian
engineers in 2019 to make sure that the production methods and tolerances of
production would meet the Austrian standard and launch full scale production. Shortly
after production started in the US, Sabre Defense was raided by Federal Authorities in
February, 2010 for allegedly illegally exporting parts and firearms, and US production of
the Steyr AUG rifle was halted when the factory was shutdown and filed for bankruptcy
protection. This rifle, was salvaged from the bankruptcy courts along with all of the
other Steyr owned parts, tools, drawings, and equipment that had been provided to
Sabre Defense. Production started again several years later with a new vendor Vltor
Weapons.

This rifle, 1USA002, was the very first AUG rifle produced in the United States after the
Assault Weapons ban of 1994 sunsetted and is an iconic part of history that was made
famous by Karl Vreski, the henchman in the very first Die Hard movie, who assembled
his futuristic bullpup weapon on screen in the movie in 1988.

_____________________________________________________
Scott O’Brien, former CEO of Steyr Arms, Inc US subsidiary, 2008-2019