Micro UZI

Micro UZI, UZI Pistol, same thing, right? Wrong! While essentially the same in design, they signify two different models in the UZI family of firearms. Here's the difference.

The UZI Pistol

Again looking towards the American commercial market, IMI designed a scaled down version of the UZI and sold it without a stock as a pistol. Action Arms began selling it in 1984. The UZI Pistol fires from a closed bolt and used the same fire control assembly as the semi automatic UZI carbine, but is fitted into a slightly different shaped grip frame to fit the smaller sized receiver. Action Arms imported the UZI pistol into the United States in both 9mm and .45 ACP, along with caliber conversion kits between these two calibers and .41 AE. Action Arms discontinued importation of the .45 ACP version of the UZI pistol in 1989 but continued selling the 9mm version until 1993 when federal legislation put an end to it. When the trigger guard was changed to an angular style on the Micro UZI, the change was also brought to the UZI Pistol. While it provided little benefit to the semi automatic pistol, it reduced production costs by using the same grip frame on the two guns. Since all Micro UZI's imported into the United States were for law enforcement use only, some people converted UZI Pistols into Micro UZI's. Any transferable Micro UZI actually started life as an UZI Pistol.

The Micro UZI

In 1986, IMI introduced the Micro UZI - a full auto version of the UZI Pistol. Less than 10 inches long with the stock folded, the Micro UZI provided the ultimate in compact firepower. It was intended mainly for security roles, providing more potent fire power in a handgun frame weapon. Another role intended for the Micro UZI was as a Personal Defense Weapon (PDW) for airborne and armored crew personnel in the IDF. The Micro UZI is closed bolt operation and came standard with the new style sights and ported barrel that had been introduced with the Mini UZI. The wire frame folding stock was leather or rubber covered, making it somewhat more comfortable to fire.  In the early 1990's, the front of the Micro UZI trigger guard was changed from flat to angular to aid in control under fully automatic fire.
 

IMI Para Micro UZI

More recently, IMI produced a new version of the Micro UZI. Known as the Para Micro UZI or the UZI Pro, it was made especially to meet the operational needs of the Israeli Special Forces (SF) Counter Terror (CT) units.

Today, the Micro UZI is mainly being used by the rappelling and fast roping sections of the Israeli CT units. These elements need a compact gun to allow them ease of movement in tight spaces, yet a more powerful weapon then the average handgun. The new Para Micro UZI comes custom made to answer these demands, and is in active deployment in the Israeli CT units.

The Para Micro UZI features several new important improvements compare to the old version, reflecting the changes in modern firearms since the first Micro UZI was produced in 1984:

• The single most important modification is the integration of a standard M1913 Picatinny rail to an IMI product. With most of the world using the M16 assault rifle and MP5 SMG series, most accessories are developed in order to be mounted on them. On the other hand, the UZI series have become less and less used in the world, and all its accessories needed a special custom made adapter to be fitted on it. Thus, an operator using the UZI only had a handful of accessories to pick from that he can mount on his weapon. The introduction of the Picatinny rail, a world standard in many different common firearms (M16, MP5, and FN Minimi to name a few) opened endless accessories' mounting options on the Para Micro UZI. The rail has been placed on both the receiver (mainly to host various day and night optics), and on a special arm extending under the barrel (mainly to host flashlights and laser pointers). 

• The entire pistol grip and magazine well have been redesign. The new version can now take standard Glock 17 9 mm handgun 17 rounds magazines, as well as a special 33 rounds Glock like magazine. This allows interchangeability with issued handguns, especially in Unit YAMAM, Israel's elite civilian CT unit, in which the Glock 17 is standard issued secondary weapon.

• The cocking handle has been moved to the left side of the receiver instead of top it allowing the mounting of accessories as well as smother operation.

• While any kind of accessories that can be fitted on a Picatinny rail can be mounted on the Para Micro UZI, the original configuration tailor made to the operational requirements of the Israeli CT units include three items: Tasco Optima miniature reflex sight, IMI GM sound suppressor and an Meprolight laser pointer.

• Several other changes have been made such as self illuminated front and rear night sights, made by the Israeli company Meprolight, and threads along the barrel for mounting a suppressor.