Development of the Uzi Family: Standard, Mini, and Micro (Ad-free)
Added 2025-01-04 12:00:05 +0000 UTCThe Uzi was originally designed in the 1950s, and it was on the technological cutting edge at the time. The stamped receiver, telescoping bolt, and compact magazine-in-grip layout made it an inexpensive and effective weapon. Its sedate 600 round/minute rate of fire helped as well, making it easy to shoot effectively. Uziel Gal experimented with a compact version at that time, but dropped the idea when he proved unable to make a smaller version with the same low rate of fire as the standard pattern.
Fast forward to the late 1970s, and the designers at IMI revisited the idea of a compact Uzi. They were willing to accept the increased rate of fire of a shorter receiver and lighter bolt, and their first prototypes were ready in 1978. full export sales began in 1980. The gun was advertised as having a 900 rpm rate of fire, but the reality was much higher.
The final step of classic Uzi development was the Micro Uzi, introduced in 1986. This was actually developed form the semiautomatic, closed-bolt Uzi Pistol made for American commercial sales. That pistol was given a select-fire trigger group and a folding stock, and it became a micro-compact submachine gun for only the most tactical of operators. It was advertised as having a 1200 rpm rate of fire, but this was again underestimated to improve sales.
In reality, the standard Uzi does fire at about 600 rpm. The Mini (in closed-bolt form) ran at 1300+ in my testing at S&B, and the Micro was over 1400 rpm. Where the original Uzi is best kept in fully automatic mode and can easily fire single shots when desired, the Mini and Micro Uzis are definitely best suited to semiautomatic use. Firing them in fully automatic is a much more difficult proposition if one wants to maintain any level of accuracy and situational awareness.
Thanks to Sellier & Bellot for giving me access to this set of Uzis to film for you!
Comments
Perhaps a hydraulic buffer, but that would complicate the quite simple Uzi.
Charlie
2025-01-08 22:45:12 +0000 UTCWhen you get the Israeli version, you will probably like it better. I am told that the wood stock on the military-issued full-size Uzi is much easier than the stamped-sheet-steal folding stock.
David T Klein
2025-01-05 17:30:28 +0000 UTCI haven't had a chance to go there yet...
Forgotten Weapons
2025-01-05 17:20:51 +0000 UTCA friend of my partner's carried the full sized Uzi when she was in the Israel Defense Force (צהל) when she did her national service.
David T Klein
2025-01-05 17:12:52 +0000 UTCA little surprised you didn't make this video at IMI in Israel.
David T Klein
2025-01-05 17:11:21 +0000 UTCThis video literally is the shooting version of the video.
Panzermeister36
2025-01-05 02:28:35 +0000 UTCBeelzy
2025-01-05 02:00:24 +0000 UTCTraining with the Bundeswehr in the early 2000's, I thought it just a little ironic that their Uzi's had a star of David on them.
Richard Joy
2025-01-04 20:41:28 +0000 UTCGreat dive into the styles of Uzis. Interesting about the lack of training of SS agents in the Reagan era.
Glenn Miller
2025-01-04 19:17:21 +0000 UTCDo you know of any rate reducing equipment or burst fire devices for the Mini or the Micro?
Martin Morehouse
2025-01-04 18:25:21 +0000 UTCIt'd be fun to see a "modernized" version of this. Not bolting an RDS onto it like some do which is super tacky imo but an actual effort to bring the whole thing up to modern PDW/PCC standards. I'm sure it'd be absolutely silly and useless, but maybe not and probably definitely kind of cool.
Mabs
2025-01-04 17:39:17 +0000 UTCIn 89/90 there was a Israeli dignitary group that came to Princetons' Tokomak reactor for a visit and the protection detail had micro-Uzis (females made up most of the detail)
Kenneth Marshall
2025-01-04 14:27:34 +0000 UTCUseless point: the IDF issued regular size Uzis with a fixed wood stock.
Rick Notkin
2025-01-04 14:15:44 +0000 UTCcan't have it here. I looove the uzi. if I could have the option of the 80s too long barreled civi carbine.... standard. the mini civi looked horrible. as the old t shirts claimed. uzi does it baby. rate with the standard could even be slower for me like 450ish m3 rate. the folder has that uzi looks of course but may worth the fixed stock penalty with the plastic one. I assume rare oddball but they did the uzi in 45acp...
Guido Schriewer
2025-01-04 13:05:34 +0000 UTCIan, I'm waiting for you to do a deep dive on my favorite SKS variant, the Yugoslavian 59/66.
John
2025-01-04 12:07:50 +0000 UTC
