We have got for you a real treat

A classic. The favorite weapon of the real expendables of the VHS era.A sub-machine gun, which starred in, among others, in The Wild Geese (I- 1978 and II -1985), Raid on Entebbe (1976) and Dogs of War (1981).

Of course, it was also used by the Great Arnold in: The Terminator (1984):

and Commando (1985):

And even by Michael Douglas in Falling down(1993). 

In short - a true classic.

It is impossible to determine the date of production of our unit.The only thing we know is that the production of this model began in 1998.

Basic technical data

Overall length (folded/unfolded stock): 470/655 mm;
Length of the inner barrel: 245 mm;
Diameter of the inner barrel: 6.12 mm;
HopUp - adjustable:
Weight without the magazine: 1800 g;
Magazine that comes with the set: a low-cap holding for 40 BBs (our unit is a second hand one with a hi-cap holding 200 BBs)

Measured muzzle velocity
(Open Blaster 0.2 g BBs, temperature of 24°C, HopUp set to zero)

1. 262,3
2. 260,9
3. 259,4
4. 261,3
5. 259,8
6. 261,7
7. 261,3
8. 261,7
9. 262,1
10. 263,5

ROF (LiPo 7,4 V 1200 mAh 15C battery): 11 BBs/s

The figures, as you can see, are not astonishing, but this time it is not about them.

The craftsmanship

The replica was mainly made of plastic.The plastic receiver is also made of plastic, the same as the pistol grip and the front grip.

The metal parts (aluminium alloy) are the receiver cover with the charging handle, the barrel with the barrel nut, the sights and switches.

The steel parts are the folded buttstock, the magazine shell (at least in the case of the hi-cap we had) and sling mounting point seen in the photo above. An important note here - despite its similarity to the modern QD mounting points, this one is not removable. It is permanently installed into the receiver.

The sights consist of a rear sight with two aperture settings, for 100 and 200 meters:

and an adjustable front sight:

It is possible to adjust it vertically and horizontally by turning the post itself.After obtaining the correct position, it is locked by tightening the counter nut indicated by the red arrow on the photo above.

The charging handle, located in the receiver cover, is milled accordingly.Otherwise, it would obstruct the aiming line.It can be pulled back to simulate reloading.The handle will return to its front position, moved by a hidden spring.Besides this it is not used for anything else.

The basic switches, i.e. the safety, the fire selector switch and the magazine release button are located in the pistol grip, and only on the left, intended for right-handed shooters.

Starting from the bottom. The magazine release button must be pressed and held. The magazine fits tightly, it will not fall out by itself, it must be pulled out.

A little higher, where the pistol grip connects with the receiver, there are two safety switches.

The first one is operated by sliding it and also serves as a fire selector switch. In the S position the replica's weapon is secured - the trigger is hard and locked. R setting is for the single fire mode and A is for the full-auto mode. Regardless, the UZI has a second independent safety switch in the form of a button at the back of the pistol grip. This solution is functionally very similar to the one known from the design of Mr. J.M. Browning (1911). Regardless of the fire selector switch position, until the gun is properly held, the trigger remains blocked. Here, the replica works very much like a firearm. The difference is that in the real gun the pistol grip button also blocks the possibility of charging a round into the firing chamber. That is, unless you hold the weapon in the right way, you will cannot pull the charging handle. 

Unfolding and folding the buttstock

To unfold the buttstock just pull it down while holding its foot, then the first part will unfold. Now you have to pull it back a little bit, the part connected to the gun's receiver will unfold.

Finally, you still have to make the two parts of the buttstock even with each other and then they will snap into place.

To fold the buttstock you first have to press the button on the left.

Then we lower the buttstock down and squeeze the part with the foot just at the connection point of the two parts, after which we push into place first the part closer to the receiver and then the one with the foot.

Describing and reading about this procedure takes a while. In practice, this is done in one smooth motion.

Battery compartment and HopUp adjustment

The replica is designed to be powered by stick type batteries. The place for them is located under the receiver cover. To get to it, move the latch indicated by the red arrow back.

In the front part the cover is inserted with the use of a special protrusion under the base of the front sight.

Under the cover, on the left, the space for the battery is located.

The wires and the T-plug visible on the photo are not original. They were replaced by the previous owner.

The HopUp adjustment can also be carried out only after removing the cover. The sliding lever is located on the right side of the receiver, more or less over the place where the trigger guard connects with the receiver.

The magazine

The original set contained a low-cap magazine holding 40 BBs. As I mentioned before, our unit was owned by at least three other people. Probably that's why we do not have a factory made magazine. We have a 200 BB hi-cap, which you could buy separately.

The magazine housing is made of a steel sheet. Inside there is a standard plastic mechanism with an winding wheel.

Shooting and accuracy test

My first impression? Despite the general angularity of the replica, it shoots nicely although, of course, it is not a world champion in field of ergonomics. It is quite the same with the real firearm. The workings of the mechanism do not raise any reservations, but it is Tokyo Marui after all. The way the replica operates reminds of shooting today's airsoft electric pistols (AEP), although it feels more dynamic.

The tests were carried out on our own enclosed shooting range, at an ambient temperature of 18°C. Because of the low muzzle velocity we decreased the distance to the target to 15 meters. We use the Open Blaster 0.2 g BBs.

Single fire mode

Full-auto mode

Summary

We have made this description of the UZI replica for  a few reasons. First of all, it's an absolutely unique replica. Nowadays it is not available at any store. Single used ones are being offered for time to time here and there. Today, for example (25/02/2019), two are available on eBay; one in a bidding, the other for nearly 200 USD plus the cost of shipping from Japan.

Secondly - the UZI is a piece of airsoft history. Thirdly - it's a piece of history as such.

And finally: the design of this replica is absolutely unique. Suffice it to say that in the UZI, the piston is working "the other way around." That is, it compresses the air towards the shooter, not the barrel exit. Interesting? If so, read the rest of the text below.

No the next page - the technical details