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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
Charlie
Perhaps a hydraulic buffer, but that would complicate the quite simple Uzi.
David T Klein
When 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.
Forgotten Weapons
I haven't had a chance to go there yet...
David T Klein
A 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
A little surprised you didn't make this video at IMI in Israel.
Panzermeister36
This video literally is the shooting version of the video.
Beelzy
Richard Joy
Training 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.
Glenn Miller
Great dive into the styles of Uzis. Interesting about the lack of training of SS agents in the Reagan era.
Martin Morehouse
Do you know of any rate reducing equipment or burst fire devices for the Mini or the Micro?
Mabs
It'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.
Kenneth Marshall
In 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)
Rick Notkin
Useless point: the IDF issued regular size Uzis with a fixed wood stock.
Guido Schriewer
can'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...
John
Ian, I'm waiting for you to do a deep dive on my favorite SKS variant, the Yugoslavian 59/66.
