Uzi
The Uzi isn't just a firearm; it's an icon, a revolutionary submachine gun born from the crucible of post-war Israel. Its compact size and distinctive silhouette have made it instantly recognizable around the world, fundamentally reshaping close-quarters combat. Join us as we explore the ingenious design choices that turned this weapon into a global sensation and a symbol of both innovation and conflict. The Uzi's groundbreaking telescoping bolt design allowed for a much shorter, better-balanced weapon, a significant departure from earlier submachine guns. Its simple, stamped-metal construction made it incredibly cost-effective to produce and easy to maintain, leading to widespread adoption by militaries and law enforcement globally. From its origins in the newly formed State of Israel to its use in countless conflicts, the Uzi proved a reliable and adaptable weapon, despite some inherent limitations in its design.
AI Summary
The Uzi isn't just a firearm; it's an icon, a revolutionary submachine gun born from the crucible of post-war Israel. Its compact size and distinctive silhouette have made it instantly recognizable around the world, fundamentally reshaping close-quarters combat. Join us as we explore the ingenious design choices that turned this weapon into a global sensation and a symbol of both innovation and conflict.
- The Uzi's groundbreaking telescoping bolt design allowed for a much shorter, better-balanced weapon, a significant departure from earlier submachine guns.
- Its simple, stamped-metal construction made it incredibly cost-effective to produce and easy to maintain, leading to widespread adoption by militaries and law enforcement globally.
- From its origins in the newly formed State of Israel to its use in countless conflicts, the Uzi proved a reliable and adaptable weapon, despite some inherent limitations in its design.
The Birth of an Icon
In the late 1940s, as the State of Israel was finding its footing, Major Uziel "Uzi" Gal set out to design a new submachine gun. He aimed for a weapon that was simple, reliable, and effective for a young army facing diverse threats. His vision would give birth to one of the most famous firearms in history.
Gal’s prototype was ready by 1950. Just four years later, it made its combat debut with Israel Defense Forces (IDF) special forces. By 1956, the Uzi was standard issue, equipping everyone from rear-echelon troops and tank crews to elite light infantry on the front lines.
The Uzi quickly became an international sensation. Manufactured by Israel Military Industries, FN Herstal, and others, it was exported to over 90 countries. From the 1960s through the 1980s, more Uzis were sold to military, law enforcement, and security markets than any other submachine gun ever created.
Ingenious Design Choices
At its heart, the Uzi uses an open-bolt, blowback-operated design. This means the bolt is held to the rear when cocked, and it moves forward to chamber and fire a round. This design choice helps cool the barrel during continuous firing but can make the receiver vulnerable to dirt and sand.
What truly set the Uzi apart was its innovative telescoping bolt. Instead of sitting entirely behind the barrel, the Uzi's bolt actually wraps around the breech end of the barrel. This clever trick allowed the barrel to be pushed further back into the receiver, making the weapon significantly shorter and better balanced, despite a heavier bolt which contributes to a more controlled, slower firing rate.
The Uzi was also a marvel of manufacturing simplicity. Primarily constructed from stamped sheet metal, it was far less expensive to produce than weapons requiring extensive machining. This not only kept costs down but also made it incredibly easy to strip for maintenance or battlefield repairs.
Reloading in the dark or under pressure is intuitive, thanks to the magazine being housed within the pistol grip—a principle known as "hand finds hand." A grip safety helps prevent accidental discharge, but the protruding vertical magazine could make firing from a prone position a bit awkward. Some models even featured a bayonet lug for close-quarters emergencies.
How It Works: Operation
To ready the Uzi, you retract the non-reciprocating charging handle, located on top of the receiver. Many variants feature a ratchet safety mechanism, which prevents the bolt from accidentally moving forward if it's not fully cocked. Once fully retracted, the bolt locks to the rear, and the charging handle springs forward, remaining stationary during firing.
The Uzi incorporates two key external safety mechanisms. The first is a three-position selector lever, typically found on the grip, just behind the trigger. This lever controls the firing mode: "S" for safe, and settings for semi-automatic or fully automatic fire depending on the variant.
The second safety is the grip safety, located at the rear of the grip. This mechanism ensures the weapon will only fire when a firm grip is maintained, providing an important layer of protection against accidental discharge, especially if the weapon is dropped.
Because the Uzi is an open-bolt weapon, pulling the trigger releases the bolt, which then chambers a round and fires it in one continuous motion. While mechanically simpler than a closed-bolt design, this system creates a slight, noticeable delay between pulling the trigger and the round actually firing.
The magazine release, a paddle-like button, is strategically placed on the lower portion of the pistol grip. It's designed to be manipulated by the non-firing hand and lies flush with the grip, minimizing the risk of accidental magazine drops during intense situations.
When the Uzi is de-cocked, the ejector port closes, acting as a barrier against dust and dirt. While the Uzi's stamped-metal receiver has built-in reinforcement slots to accommodate some debris, heavy sand accumulation in desert conditions, without regular cleaning, could still lead to jams. Remember to remove the magazine before de-cocking!
Accessorizing the Uzi: Stocks
The Uzi came with several stock options to suit different needs. Early IDF models often featured a fixed wooden stock, some with compartments for cleaning rods. Later, for increased portability, IMI developed a clever downward-folding metal stock that tucked neatly under the receiver.
As the Uzi evolved into more compact versions, so did its stocks. The Mini Uzi sported a forward-folding single-strut metal stock, actually a bit longer than the original Uzi's, with a buttplate that could double as a foregrip when folded. The even smaller Micro Uzi featured a similar compact design.
Magazines and Caliber Conversions
Initially, 9mm Uzis used 25-round box magazines. While experimental 40- and 50-round versions proved unreliable, a 32-round extended magazine became the standard. Mini and Micro Uzis typically used shorter 20-round magazines, though high-capacity aftermarket options, including 100-round drum magazines, were also available.
For those seeking more stopping power, .45 ACP caliber Uzis were produced, using 16- or 22-round magazines, or 12-round magazines for the compact variants. A conversion kit even allowed the .45-caliber Uzi to utilize the robust 30-round magazines of the M3 "Grease Gun."
The Uzi's versatility extended to easy caliber conversions. Kits for .22 LR or .41 AE allowed operators to simply swap the barrel, bolt, and magazine. This modularity made the Uzi adaptable for training, different tactical scenarios, or even civilian sport shooting.
Battlefield Performance and Legacy
The Uzi was officially adopted by the IDF in 1951, proving its worth almost immediately. Its first significant combat use came during the 1956 Suez Campaign, where the initial models with fixed wooden stocks saw action. Uziel Gal's request not to have the weapon named after him was, understandably, ignored.
Its compact size and substantial firepower were invaluable for troops operating in tight spaces. The Uzi played a crucial role in clearing Syrian bunkers and Jordanian defensive positions during the 1967 Six-Day War. While phased out of frontline IDF service in the 1980s, some variants remained in use until 2003, eventually replaced by modern assault rifles like the Micro Tavor.
Generally, the Uzi was a reliable military weapon. However, no firearm is immune to extreme conditions. During the Sinai Campaign of the Yom Kippur War, some IDF units reported that in heavy sand and dust, only the 7.62mm FN MAG machine gun remained operational, highlighting the Uzi's vulnerability in the harshest desert environments.
Its compact design was a blessing for mechanized infantry and for clearing confined spaces. Yet, this came with a trade-off: limited range and accuracy in automatic fire, typically around 50 meters. This became a disadvantage when engaging enemies armed with longer-range weapons, eventually contributing to its retirement from front-line assault units.
Beyond the Middle East, the Uzi saw action in numerous conflicts. Portuguese cavalry, police, and security forces utilized 9mm Uzis extensively during the Portuguese Colonial Wars in Africa throughout the 1960s and 70s, showcasing its broad international appeal.
Variants, Civilian Models, and Global Impact
The Uzi's success translated into staggering financial returns, generating over 2 billion US dollars in sales for IMI by the end of 2001. Its widespread adoption ensured its place in popular culture, from Hollywood films to video games.
Military Variants
The original, standard Uzi featured a 10-inch barrel and boasted a rate of fire of 600 rounds per minute (rpm) for the 9mm Parabellum version, slightly slower at 500 rpm for the .45 ACP model.
Introduced in 1980, the Mini Uzi was a more compact version. Measuring 600mm long (or 360mm with its stock folded), it had a 197mm barrel and a higher cyclic rate of fire—around 950 rpm—due to its lighter, shorter bolt. Its effective range was about 100 meters.
The Micro Uzi, launched in 1986, took compactness to an extreme. At just 486mm long (282mm with stock folded) and weighing a mere 1.5 kg, it featured a short 117mm barrel. Uniquely, it operated from a closed bolt and had a blistering rate of fire, up to 1,200 rpm.
The Uzi Pro, an improved Micro Uzi variant, debuted in 2010 from Israel Weapon Industries. It incorporates a lightweight polymer lower receiver, redesigned grip for better control, and Picatinny rails for accessories like optics and foregrips. Its charging handle was moved to the left side, and it features an advanced three-stage safety system. It's currently being evaluated by the IDF.
Civilian Variants
To meet civilian market regulations, particularly in the United States, the Uzi Carbine was created. It shared the submachine gun's iconic look but featured a longer 400mm (16-inch) barrel and fired only in semi-automatic, from a closed-bolt position. This allowed it to be legally sold to the public as a rifle.
Civilian carbine models included the Model A (1980-1983) and the Model B (1983-1989), with the B offering improved safeties and sights. Today, original civilian Uzis, especially the more collectible pre-1986 transferable full-auto versions, can fetch prices well over $25,000 USD.
Article
Uzi
The Uzi ( ; Hebrew: עוּזִי, romanized: ʿûzî; officially cased as UZI) is a family of Israeli open-bolt, blowback-operated submachine guns and machine pistols first designed by Major Uziel "Uzi" Gal in the late 1940s, shortly after the establishment of the State of Israel. It is one of the first weapons to incorporate a telescoping bolt design, which allows the magazine to be housed in the pistol grip for a shorter weapon.
The Uzi prototype was finished in 1950. It was first introduced to Israel Defense Forces (IDF) special forces in 1954, and the weapon was placed into general issue two years later. The IDF supplied Uzis to rear-echelon troops, officers, artillery troops and tank crews, as well as a frontline weapon by elite light infantry assault forces.
The Uzi has been exported to over 90 countries. Over its service lifetime, it has been manufactured by Israel Military Industries, FN Herstal, and other manufacturers. From the 1960s through to the 1980s, more Uzi submachine guns were sold to more military, law enforcement and security markets than any other submachine gun ever made.
Design
Uzi
Uziel Gal, the designer and inventor of the Uzi submachine gun
The Uzi uses an open-bolt, blowback-operated design, quite similar to the Jaroslav Holeček-designed Czech ZK 476 (prototype only) and the production Sa 23, Sa 24, Sa 25, and Sa 26 series of submachine guns introduced in 1948. The open bolt design exposes the barrel's breech end, improving cooling after periods of continuous fire. However, it means that since the bolt is held to the rear when cocked, the receiver is more susceptible to contamination from sand and dirt. It uses a telescoping bolt design, in which the bolt wraps around the breech end of the barrel. This allows the barrel to be moved far back into the receiver and the magazine to be housed in the pistol grip, allowing for a heavier, slower-firing bolt in a shorter, better-balanced weapon.
The weapon is constructed primarily from stamped sheet metal, making it less expensive per unit to manufacture than an equivalent design machined from forgings. With relatively few moving parts, the Uzi is easy to strip for maintenance or repair. The magazine is housed within the pistol grip, allowing for intuitive and easy reloading in dark or difficult conditions, under the principle of "hand finds hand". The pistol grip is fitted with a grip safety, making it difficult to fire accidentally. However, the protruding vertical magazine makes the gun awkward to fire when prone. The Uzi features a bayonet lug.
Operation
The non-reciprocating charging handle on the top of the receiver cover is used to retract the bolt. Variants have a ratchet safety mechanism which will catch the bolt and lock its movement if it is retracted past the magazine, but not far enough to engage the sear. When the handle is fully retracted to the rear, the bolt will cock (catch) on the sear mechanism and the handle and cover are released to spring fully forward under power of a small spring. The cover will remain forward during firing since it does not reciprocate with the bolt. The military and police versions will fire immediately upon chambering a cartridge as the Uzi is an open bolt weapon.
There are two external safety mechanisms on the Uzi. The first is the three-position selector lever located at the top of the grip and behind the trigger group. The rear position is "S", or "safe" (S = Sicher or Secure on the MP2), which locks the sear and prevents movement of the bolt.
The second external safety mechanism is the grip safety, which is located at the rear of the grip. It is meant to help prevent accidental discharge if the weapon is dropped or the user loses a firm grip on the weapon during firing.
The trigger mechanism is a conventional firearm trigger, but functions only to control the release mechanism for either the bolt (submachine gun) or firing pin holding mechanism (semi-auto) since the Uzi does not incorporate an internal cocking or hammer mechanism. While the open-bolt system is mechanically simpler than a closed-bolt design (e.g. Heckler & Koch MP5), it creates a noticeable delay between when the trigger is pulled and when the gun fires.
The magazine release button or lever is located on the lower portion of the pistol grip and is intended to be manipulated by the non-firing hand. The paddle-like button lies flush with the pistol grip in order to help prevent accidental release of the magazine during rigorous or careless handling.
When the gun is de-cocked the ejector port closes, preventing entry of dust and dirt. Though the Uzi's stamped-metal receiver is equipped with pressed reinforcement slots to accept accumulated dirt and sand, the weapon can still jam with heavy accumulations of sand in desert combat conditions when not cleaned regularly. The magazine must be removed prior to de-cocking the weapon.
Stocks
Uzi with a detachable wooden stock
Uzi with a folding stock
There are different stocks available for the Uzi proper. There is a wooden stock with a metal buttplate that comes in three similar variations that were used by the IDF. The first version had a flat butt and straight comb and had hollows for a cleaning rod and gun oil bottle. The second had an angled butt and a straight comb and no hollows. The third had an angled butt and curved comb and no hollows; a polymer version is currently available from IMI. The wooden stocks originally had a quick-release base but the ones sold in the United States often had a permanent base for legal reasons, as detachable stocks on pistols or other short-barreled weapons upgrade the weapon to NFA status.
Choate made an aftermarket polymer stock with a rubber butt-pad that had a flat butt, a straight comb, and a permanent base.
In 1956, IMI developed a downward-folding twin-strut metal stock with two swivelling sections that tuck under the rear of the receiver. The Mini Uzi has a forward-folding single-strut metal stock that is actually an inch longer than the Uzi's. Its buttplate can be used as a foregrip when stowed. The Micro Uzi has a similar model.
Magazines
The original box magazines for the 9mm Uzi had a 25-round capacity. Experimental 40- and 50-round extended magazines were tried but were found to be unreliable. A 32-round extended magazine was then tried and was later accepted as standard. The Mini Uzi and Micro Uzi use a shorter 20-round magazine. Available extended magazines include 40-, and 50-round magazines. Other high-capacity aftermarket magazines exist such as the Vector Arms 70-round and Beta Company (Beta C-Mag) 100-round drums.
The .45 ACP Uzi used a 16- or 22-round magazine, while the .45 ACP Micro Uzi and Mini Uzi used a 12-round magazine. A conversion kit by Vector Arms allowed the .45-caliber Uzi to use the same 30-round magazines as the M3 "Grease Gun".
Caliber conversions
The Uzi was available with caliber conversion kits in .22 LR or .41 AE. The operator just has to change the barrel, bolt and magazine. The .22 LR had 20-round magazines; the original IMI kit used a barrel insert while the aftermarket Action Arms kit used a full replacement barrel. The .41 AE also had a 20-round magazine; since it has the same bolt face as the 9×19mm Parabellum, only the barrel and magazine needed to be changed.
IMI also manufactured a .45ACP conversion kit both in full auto/open bolt with a 10.2" barrel for the 9mm SMG and a semi only/closed bolt with a 16" barrel for the carbine version. Magazine capacity is limited, with 2 sizes of 16 and 10 rds each.
History and operational use
Uzi
An Israeli soldier with an Uzi during the Yom Kippur War (1973)
Israeli soldiers on parade with Uzis, Jerusalem, 1968
The Uzi submachine gun was designed by Captain (later Major) Uziel Gal of the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) following the 1948 Arab–Israeli War. The weapon was submitted to the Israeli Army for evaluation and won out over more conventional designs due to its simplicity and economy of manufacture. Gal did not want the weapon to be named after him, but his request was ignored. The Uzi was officially adopted in 1951. First introduced to IDF special forces in 1954, the weapon was placed into general issue two years later. The first Uzis were equipped with a short, fixed wooden buttstock, and this is the version that initially saw combat during the 1956 Suez Campaign. Later models would be equipped with a folding metal stock.
The Uzi was used as a personal defense weapon by rear-echelon troops, officers, artillery troops and tankers, as well as a frontline weapon by elite light infantry assault forces. The Uzi's compact size and firepower proved instrumental in clearing Syrian bunkers and Jordanian defensive positions during the 1967 Six-Day War. Though the weapon was phased out of frontline IDF service in the 1980s, some Uzis and Uzi variants were still used by a few IDF units until December 2003, when the IDF announced that it was retiring the Uzi from all IDF forces. It was subsequently replaced by the fully automatic Micro Tavor.
In general, the Uzi was a reliable weapon in military service. However, even the Uzi fell victim to extreme conditions of sand and dust. During the Sinai Campaign of the Yom Kippur War, IDF Army units reaching the Suez Canal reported that of all their small arms, only the 7.62mm FN MAG machine gun was still in operation.
The Uzi proved especially useful for mechanized infantry needing a compact weapon and for infantry units clearing bunkers and other confined spaces. However, its limited range and accuracy in automatic fire (approximately 50 m (160 ft)) could be disconcerting when encountering enemy forces armed with longer-range small arms, and heavier support weapons could not always substitute for a longer-ranged individual weapon. These failings eventually caused the phasing out of the Uzi from IDF front-line assault units.
The Uzi has been used in various conflicts outside Israel and the Middle East during the 1960s and 1970s. Quantities of 9 mm Uzi submachine guns were used by Portuguese cavalry, police, and security forces during the Portuguese Colonial Wars in Africa.
Worldwide sales
Uzi
Secret Service agents cover Press Secretary James Brady and police officer Thomas Delahanty during the assassination attempt of President Ronald Reagan by John Hinckley Jr. on March 30, 1981. Secret Service agent Robert Wanko unfolds the stock of an Uzi in case of further attack.
Total sales of the weapon to date (end of 2001) has netted IMI over 2 billion US dollars, with over 90 countries using the weapons either for their armed forces or in law enforcement.
• The Royal Netherlands Army first issued the Uzi in 1956. It was the first country other than Israel to use it as a service weapon. Their models are distinct in that they have a wooden stock (made to their specifications) that is more angular, an angled butt and a curved comb, and is 2 inches longer than the IDF model. The wooden stock versions were mainly used by the Royal Netherlands Navy and the Marine Corps. The Army and Airforce received the metal foldable stock versions as replacement. No bayonets were issued. • The German Bundeswehr (especially its tank crews) used the Uzi since 1959 under the designation MP2. It replaced the MP1 (Beretta M1938/49) and Thompson M1 in service. The MP2 was fitted with the IDF-style wooden stock and the later MP2A1 was fitted with the metal folding stock. It can be recognized by its distinctive three-position "DES" selector switch: "D" for "Dauerfeuer" ("continuous-fire", or "automatic"), "E" for "Einzelfeuer" ("single-fire", or "semi-automatic"), and "S" for "Sicher" ("secure", or "safe"). It was replaced with the Heckler & Koch MP7 Personal Defense Weapon in 2007. Most of the Uzis used in Germany consisted of receivers with Israeli markings and grips made by FN. • The Belgian Armed Forces have used Uzi machine pistols in 9mm, .45 ACP and 22LR calibres, license-made by FN Herstal from 1958 to 1971. They were also issued to the paramilitary Gendarmerie. • The Irish Gardaí ERU and RSU were issued the Uzi from the 1970s to 2012. It was replaced with the Heckler & Koch MP7 in March 2014. • In Rhodesia, the Uzi was produced under license from 1976 until the fall of Rhodesia in 1980. It was made from Israeli-supplied (and later Rhodesian-made) components. • Sri Lanka ordered a few thousand Mini Uzi and Uzi carbines in 1990s. Currently those are deployed with the Sri Lanka Army, Sri Lanka Navy Elite Forces, and the Sri Lanka Police Special Task Force as their primary weapon when providing security for VIPs. • The United States Secret Service used the Uzi as their standard submachine gun from the 1960s until the early 1990s, when it was phased out and replaced with the Heckler & Koch MP5 and FN P90. When President Ronald Reagan was shot on March 30, 1981, Secret Service Special Agent Robert Wanko pulled an Uzi out of a briefcase and covered the rear of the presidential limousine as it sped to safety with the wounded president inside. • All merchant mariners of the Zim Integrated Shipping line are trained in the use of, and issued, the Uzi.
Military variants
Uzi
A Mini Uzi
Argentine special forces with a Micro Uzi
The standard Uzi has a 10-inch (250 mm) barrel. It has a rate of automatic fire of 600 rounds per minute (rpm) when chambered in 9mm Parabellum; the .45 ACP model's rate of fire is slower at 500 rpm.
The Mini Uzi is a smaller version of the regular Uzi, first introduced in 1980. The Mini Uzi is 600 mm (24 in) long or 360 mm (14 in) long with the stock folded. Its barrel length is 197 mm (7.8 in), its muzzle velocity is 375 m/s (1,230 ft/s) and its effective range is 100 m (330 ft). It has a greater automatic rate of fire of 950 rounds per minute due to the shorter bolt. Its weight is approximately 2.7 kg (6.0 lb).
The Micro Uzi is an even further scaled down version of the Uzi, introduced in 1986. The Micro Uzi is 486 mm (19.1 in) long, reduced to 282 mm (11.1 in) with the stock folded, and its barrel length is 117 mm (4.6 in). It has a closed bolt compared to its original counterpart. Its muzzle velocity is 350 m/s (1,100 ft/s) and its cyclic rate of fire is 1,200 rpm. It weighs slightly over 1.5 kg (3.3 lb).
The Uzi Pro, an improved variant of the Micro Uzi, was launched in 2010 by Israel Weapon Industries Ltd. (I.W.I.), formerly the magen ("small arms") division of Israel Military Industries. The Uzi Pro is a blowback-operated, select-fire, closed-bolt submachine gun with a large lower portion, comprising grip and handguard, entirely made of polymer to reduce weight; the grip section was redesigned to allow two-handed operation and facilitate control in full-automatic fire of such a small-sized firearm. The Uzi Pro features four Picatinny rails, two at the sides of the barrel, which can be removed, one below the barrel for the addition of foregrips and one on the top for optics. The under barrel rail is often shown with a specialised foregrip which attaches to the pistol grip to form a handguard. In addition, the cocking handle has been moved to the left side. The new weapon weighs 2.32 kg (5.1 lb) and has a length of 529 mm (20.8 in) with an extended stock, and 300 mm (12 in) while collapsed. As of 2011 it has been purchased by the IDF in limited numbers for evaluation and it is yet to be decided whether or not to order additional units for all of its special forces.
Civilian variants
Uzi carbine
The Uzi carbine is similar in appearance to the Uzi submachine gun. The Uzi carbine is fitted with a 400-millimetre (16 in) barrel, to meet the minimum rifle barrel length requirement for civilian sales in the United States. A small number of Uzi carbines were produced with the standard length barrel for special markets. It fires from a closed-bolt position in semi-automatic mode only and uses a floating firing pin as opposed to a fixed firing pin. The FS-style selector switch has two positions (the automatic setting was blocked): "F" for "fire" (semi-auto) and "S" for "safe". Uzi carbines are available in .22 LR, 9mm, .41 AE, and .45 ACP calibers.
The Uzi carbine has two main variants, the Model A (imported from 1980 to 1983) and the Model B (imported from 1983 until 1989). The Type A was the same as the fully automatic Uzi, while the Type B had a firing pin safety and improved sights and sling swivels. These two variants were imported and distributed by Action Arms.
The American firm Group Industries made limited numbers of a copy of the Uzi "B" model semiauto carbine for sale in the US along with copies of the Uzi submachine gun for the U.S. collectors' market. After registering several hundred submachine guns transferable to the general public through a special government-regulated process, production was halted due to financial troubles at the company. Company assets (including partially made Uzi submachine guns, parts, and tooling) were purchased by an investment group later to become known as Vektor Arms. Vektor Arms built and marketed numerous versions of the Uzi carbine and the Mini Uzi. As of 2024, average prices can be over $25,000.00 USD.
Today, while the civilian manufacture, sale and possession of post-1986 select-fire Uzi and its variants is prohibited in the United States, it is still legal to sell templates, tooling and manuals to complete such conversion. These items are typically marketed as being "post-sample" materials for use by federal firearm licensees for manufacturing/distributing select-fire variants of the Uzi to law enforcement, military and overseas customers.
Mini Uzi carbine
The Mini Uzi carbine is similar in appearance to the Mini Uzi machine pistol. The Mini Uzi carbine is fitted with a 500-millimetre (20 in) barrel, to meet the minimum rifle overall length requirement for civilian sales in the United States. It fires from a closed-bolt position in semi-automatic mode only.
Uzi pistol
An Uzi pistol with a 20-round magazine
The Uzi pistol is a semi-automatic, closed bolt, and blowback-operated pistol variant. Its muzzle velocity is 345 m/s. It is a Micro Uzi with no shoulder stock or full-automatic firing capability. The intended users of the pistol are various security agencies in need of a high-capacity semi-automatic pistol, or civilian shooters who want a gun with those qualities and the familiarity of the Uzi style. It was introduced in 1984 and produced until 1993.
Uzi Pro pistol
The Uzi Pro pistol is a current version of the Uzi pistol. It has rails on the top and bottom, and there is an optional stabilizing brace. Unlike any other Uzi variant, the Uzi Pro pistol has a side charging handle, rather than a top charging handle, and has a three-stage safety. There are three safeties on the Uzi Pro pistol: a thumb safety, a grip safety, and a firing pin block. This model was intended for law enforcement and civilian use, due to the compact size, rails, and a semi-automatic rate of fire. Unlike other Uzi variants, the Uzi Pro pistol is only chambered for 9×19 Parabellum.
Copies
Ero and Mini-Ero
Strojnica ERO
The Ero submachine gun was produced by Končar Arma Grupa d.o.o. in Zagreb, Croatia from 1992 until 1996. Between 15,000 and 20,000 were produced. It was adopted by Armed Forces of Croatia in 1993 during the Croatian War of Independence. The Ero submachine gun is not a literal copy of the Israeli Uzi submachine gun. It is made of higher quality materials, and on earlier examples the barrel is thicker than on the original, and the receiver cover is slightly wider. They were made entirely from steel stampings, causing it to weigh more (3.73 kg (8.2 lb)). Main difference between Ero and Uzi was in the rate of burst fire, which was 600 rounds/min for the Uzi and 650 rounds/min for the Ero). It uses the 32-round magazine as standard but can use any 9 mm Uzi-interface magazine of 25 rounds or larger.
After producing the Ero, Končar Arma Grupa d.o.o. started making some design changes. With the Mini-Ero, they picked a size in between that of the Mini-Uzi and Micro-Uzi, and also used a stock taken from the vz.61 Škorpion. The barrel length is 125 mm and Mini-Ero has a closed bolt compared to its original counterpart. The weight of the Mini-Ero is 2.2 kg (4.85 lb) empty. The length is 545.5 mm (21.47 in) with the folding stock extended and only 250 mm (9.84 in) with the stock folded. It uses standard Micro Uzi magazine (32 rounds).
BA93 and BA94
The BA93 and BA94 are Myanmar made clones of the Uzi. Production started in Myanmar after 1991 when an Israeli delegation visited the country and supplied the Tatmadaw with Uzis. It also included the rights to manufacture the Uzi under license.
The BA93 is based on the Uzi, but with a longer barrel and fixed stock. It was introduced in 1993. It is commonly seen with Myanmar soldiers and special forces units operating in commando or VIP protection operations.
The BA94 was introduced in 1994. Improvements made include moving the charging handle from the top to the left with a shorter barrel. This model is mostly seen with Myanma police forces.
Norinco Model 320
Norinco of China manufactures an unlicensed copy of the Uzi Model B that is sold as the Model 320. Early versions were marked "POLICE Model" in English. Modifications were made to avoid the US Assault Weapon Import Ban: the folding stock was replaced with a wooden thumbhole stock, the barrel nut was welded in place, and the bayonet lug was removed. The gun had a gray parkerized finish, a 410 millimetres (16 in) carbine-length barrel and is 800 millimetres (31 in) overall.
TK-K12
The TK-K12 (or TL-K12) is a Vietnamese clone of the IMI Micro Uzi since 2013.
Zastava M97
The Zastava M97 is a Serbian clone of the Mini Uzi. Two variants consist of the M97 with an 8 in (200 mm) barrel and the M97K with a 6.5 in (170 mm) barrel and no folding stock with a vertical foregrip permanent attached.
Hamas clone
From 1993 to 1996, Hamas manufactured a total of 350 Uzi clones, until its production was dismantled by the Palestinian Security Services' intelligence unit led by Moussa Arafat.
Users
Uzi
A map with users of the Uzi in blue
Gallery
Uzi
• An Uzi-armed Israeli woman on guard duty in the Negev (1956), note wooden stock • Israeli paratroopers armed with Uzis in 1958 • An IDF Bedouin soldier with an Uzi equipped with a mag clip (1969) • An Uzi submachine gun • Uzi with suppressor • An Uzi pistol • An Uzi seized during Operation Urgent Fury
In popular culture
Uzi
In over 200 action films from Hollywood film studies, as well as other major studies worldwide, action heroes and antiheroes are shown frantically firing from an Uzi held in one hand, or even from two Uzis held in two hands. On a webpage on the subject of the Uzi manufacturer, Israel Weapon Industries contains a list of notable films of this type, starting with the 1976 Raid on Entebbe. IWI says that Arnold Schwarzenegger fired more rounds from an Uzi than all other action heroes, including James Bond, Charles Bronson, Jackie Chan, Keanu Reeves, Chuck Norris, Michael Douglas, John Travolta, Vincent Cassel, and Ed Harris. The creator of the Uzi, Uziel Gal, was a consultant on Terminator 2, where he gave lessons to Linda Hamilton, who played Sarah Connor, the main female protagonist. Charlie Gao of The National Interest suggests that the surge of the Uzi's cultural popularity was because it was the first widespread machine gun of modern design after the bulky ones originating in World War II era.