UZI for sale: is the listing accurate?

[GunMD]

I own a variety of select fire guns (AK, Thompson, MP5-SD, American 180, and a few M16s) and in the process of collecting them, I've learned to research guns before buying them. Next on my list is an UZI. I've decided I want an IMI conversion select-fire UZI, with the conversion done properly such that it's a registered receiver and it can be converted to run 22.

There's a posting on Gunbroker (543484552) which appears to fit the bill. However, when I contacted the seller, he told me that the blocking bar had not been removed and the bolt was slotted to allow full auto. It is indeed a registered receiver and according to the seller's ad, you can readily convert it to 22 or 45 using the available kits.

Thankfully, I researched this on UZI Talk and it appears pretty clear that a conversion done this way leads to the bolt being married to the gun and an inability to use the 22 conversion kits because 1) they wont fit; and 2) it would be illegal, since the bolt taken out of the gun would also be considered a machine gun by ATF (i.e. now there would be two machine guns, from the ATF's view).

The seller suggests that the information on UZI Talk is out of date with regards to the BATFE rulings. I hope that's the case and this is a viable buy, but rather than debate it further with the seller, I decided to go straight to the experts: YOU GUYS!

BTW, this is my first post. I was waiting to buy an UZI before becoming active, but I'm discovering the first step is to tap into the experts. Thanks in advance for your help.

 

[BWE Firearms]

You are correct. You can not remove the blocking bar from a registered receiver Uzi.

 

[GunMD]

You are correct. You can not remove the blocking bar from a registered receiver Uzi.

Man, that was quick. Thank you, Richard.

Does that also mean:

1) it's not convertible to fire 22 or 45 in full auto; and

2) the receiver and bolt are married to each other? The bolt is not serial numbered or otherwise marked, if that changes things.

Thank you!

 

[RoverDave]

Yes, it means both of those things. Some people registered the receiver but converted the bolt (by cutting a slot in it.) That sort of conversion was not the proper way to do it, but that's what they did. The bolt becomes married to the receiver regardless of whether they serial numbered the bolt or not. Any time the bolt was slotted, regardless of whether the receiver or bolt was registered, you can't do caliber conversions. If the seller is denying this, then you know all you need to know about the seller.

 

[GunMD]

That's what I had understood as well. Interestingly, the seller said that he talked to his "07 guy" and he confirmed everything that he thought, ie:

-The gun can be legally converted to work with .22 and 45 conversion;
-that you can cut the blocking bar off; and
-that the married receivers have more to do with kits like the AK, where they had drilled to make the serialized parts kit work (?), in which case then they would be married, but that doesn't apply to the UZI which has a serial numbered receiver.

He also said not to believe everything I read on the internet <grin>.

Anyway, I provided a link to this thread. Hopefully, that will help him avoid legal trouble and/or a claim from his customer down the road. While I was originally interested in buying the gun, now I'm only trying to help the guy avoid potentially significant problems. Not being an expert, though, I'm not the best equipped to explain this. What shocks me, though, is that an 07 would say it's fine to remove the blocking bar and to convert it using a new bolt to .22 auto, by modifying the kit. You'd think an 07 would understand that he would be creating two select fire guns in the ATF's eyes.

 

[pmf]

Either he's a dumbass or he's dishonest. I tend to lean towards the latter. It didn't take you long to figure out that a slotted bolt gun is not something you want. I'd bet he figured out it's not something many folks would want to buy some time ago.

 

[BWE Firearms]

You would be surprised how many dealers, manufacturers, ATF agents, FBI agents and LEOs have no clue what the laws are or what they mean and dont care.

 

[panhead5]

You would be surprised how many dealers, manufacturers, ATF agents, FBI agents and LEOs have no clue what the laws are or what they mean and dont care.

Truer words were never spoken !!!!! I take the firearms legality thing pretty seriously and have had a bunch of dumb questions and incorrect assumptions along the way but I was truly shocked at the number of dealers and aforementioned folks including the ATF that have no clue about the laws or technicalities of said issues . The gun dealers in particular are unbelievable . Not all mind you but many .

It also took me awhile to realize that with the ATF you really are dealing with just another government agency instead of all the conspiracy theories I read (on the internet of course) on transfer problems or delays.

 

[PDXsparky]

Either he's a dumbass or he's dishonest. I tend to lean towards the latter. It didn't take you long to figure out that a slotted bolt gun is not something you want. I'd bet he figured out it's not something many folks would want to buy some time ago.

I'll bet he does end up finding a sucker to buy it, and still won't learn that he's wrong.