Jim Kelly, production manager with Kalashnikov USA, said that at least three states are currently in the running for hosting the company's production facilities.

A number of heavily customized Russian-made AKs were on display at the Kalashnikov USA booth, including several Saiga shotguns specifically designed for 3-gunning and modernized, tactical rifles. Kelly indicated that he was gauging reactions to the firearms at the booth for potential inclusion in future production runs.

The announcement of an American Kalashnikov factory comes as welcome news to Kalashnikov enthusiasts in the United States. Import of Russian-made AK rifles was cut off by President Barack Obama in 2014, part of sanctions introduced against Russian individuals and companies in the wake of the conflict in Eastern Ukraine.

A Russian-made rifle on display at the Kalashnikov USA booth.

True Russian-made AKs are considered by many to be the highest-quality Kalashnikovs available in the world. Obama's import ban caused the prices of the Russian-made AKs that remain in the United States to increase significantly.