Olympic Arms OA-93

The OA-93, OA-96 and OA-98 Pistols

OA-93 : Olympic Arms made an AR-15 pistol called the OA-93 which had a barrel shroud and the first model Phantom flash hider. Then the Omnibus Crime Bill of 1994 (also known as the Clinton Federal Assault weapon Ban) outlawed the OA-93 a short while after it's introduction.

OA-96 : As a result of the banning of specific cosmetic details, Olympic Arms released the OA-96 Pistol, which had a permanently pinned 10 round magazine (which "looked like a 30 round magazine"), thus not being 'detachable' the OA-96 could keep the barrel shroud and flash hider. Sales were abominable however, and few were made. No one wanted a pistol that you had to disassemble in order to reload.

OA-98 : In an attempt to built another pistol that 'could' have a detachable magazine, Olympic Arms released the OA-98 Pistol, which had the look of a 'skeleton' in that most of the metal and plastic had been cut away, to keep the pistol under the ridiculous and arbitrary "50 oz. weight limit" imposed by the Clinton Ban. Once under this weight limit, they could add the detachable magazine and still not be an assault weapon. But the flash hider and barrel heat shield had to go. Arguably one the ugliest pistols on the planet, it too did not sell well.

Most AR15 pistols seen in television and movies may either be a Freedom Arms 7" AR15 Pistol or the same gun as a kit built on another manufacturer's registered Full auto lower receiver, or the Olympic Arms OA-93. The OA-93 was unique in that it sported a 6.5" barrel and the distinctive spring and gas piston assembly above the upper receiver, which eliminated the need for a buffer tube with spring.

The Olympic Arms 6.5" AR-15 pistol, also called the "OA-93" can be seen in the following movies used by the following actors:

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OA-93 5.56x45mm

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OA-93 5.56x45mm with mag removed