Heckler & Koch USP Variant 5 DAO .40 S&W, 4.25" Barrel, 1994 "KE" Date Code, 13+1 Capacity
This early-production 1994 HK USP stands out as a factory-proofed German pistol that has been professionally converted to the uncommon Variant 5 double-action-only trigger system. It features a bobbed hammer, Hostile Environment nitrocarburized slide and barrel, and retains matching serial numbers on the slide, barrel, and frame. Collectors will appreciate the “KE” date code, German nitro eagle proofs, and pre-Picatinny proprietary accessory rail found only on first-generation USPs.
Condition
Overall Condition: Very good condition, showing only light, superficial signs of prior handling or use.
Bore Condition: Good - Clean, well-maintained, minor wear marks.
Bore Rifling: Good Rifling - Intact, well-defined lands and grooves.
Specific Condition Notes: This firearm is in great shape. Minor superficial scratches and small blemishes are present on the slide and frame. The bore is bright and shiny.
What’s Included
- HK gray plastic hard case
- HK USP Operator's Manual (9mm & .40 S&W)
- One HK factory 13-round .40 S&W steel magazine
The pistol’s Variant 5 DAO conversion delivers a consistent double-action pull on every shot and eliminates the single-action mode entirely. The hammer spur was carefully bobbed during the conversion to streamline the profile and prevent snagging while holstering.
A “KE” date code places this pistol firmly in the USP’s inaugural production year of 1994. Early USPs like this one include the proprietary accessory rail molded into the polymer dust cover, predating today’s Picatinny standard and making the gun immediately recognizable to HK enthusiasts.
The slide and 4.25-inch cold hammer-forged barrel wear HK’s Hostile Environment finish, a nitrocarburizing process designed to resist corrosion and surface wear. German nitro eagle proofs and the Ulm antler are crisply struck, reinforcing its German origin and proofing pedigree.
Inside the polymer frame is HK’s integral recoil-reduction buffer, a mechanical system that moderates slide velocity and contributes to the USP’s reputation for durability with stout .40 S&W loads. Fixed three-dot sights, an ambidextrous paddle magazine release, and a manual safety lever round out the pistol’s practical feature set.