Open bolt semi auto Model B on Gunbroker

[firefighter]

Here is the auction:
http://www.gunbroker.com/Auction/ViewItem.aspx?Item=326862462

I emailed him and told him that there weren't any reported semi auto open bolt Uzis imported, and told him how an open bolt worked. His reply was anything but thankful as he explained how he knew he was right and that he knew full well how an open bolt gun worked.
I told him that open bolt guns could not be manufactured after June of 1982 and that the Model B Uzis were only imported beginning in 1983.

I'd love to have a look at the bolt and internals.

 

[Ben Walker]

Now I'am new to the uzi SA firearm .
However I thought ( I'am getting older ) there was some writing within the last couple weeks. Which stated there may have been a few brought in . Then again I forget what I have even owned over the years .

 

[ddmau]

Whether it's legit or not, an open bolt Semi doesn't make a lot of sense, other than for a collector who wants "one of each". A closed-bolt is far more accurate (shorter "lock time" ), and you don't have to worry about crap getting in the chamber when you are carrying it around. The main advantage of an open-bolt design is that it's simpler (marginally), and it runs cooler - which isn't a real advantage in a Semi anyway.

Interesting collector's piece though.....

 

[gbfirearmsales]

Whether it's legit or not, an open bolt Semi doesn't make a lot of sense, other than for a collector who wants "one of each". A closed-bolt is far more accurate (shorter "lock time" ), and you don't have to worry about crap getting in the chamber when you are carrying it around. The main advantage of an open-bolt design is that it's simpler (marginally), and it runs cooler - which isn't a real advantage in a Semi anyway.

Interesting collector's piece though.....

Assuming (and I disagree, because there has been ZERO information available to support their existence) that IMI had EVER made an open bolt semi, they would undoubtedly be worth a lot more today than closed bolt semi uzi's. Anyone who collects open bolt guns does not do it for their accuracy over closed bolt guns, its for their rarity or in some cases for their ease of convertibility. That guy knows it's not a collectors piece, it's nothing more than a semi auto uzi with either a slotted full auto bolt, or with the blocking bar removed. Someone is going to get into trouble buying that gun. Its sad because the buyer may be totally clueless to the risk he is getting him or herself into with that purchase.

 

[Ben Walker]

Has to be legal as a dealer is selling it . cough cough .

 

[Glockdude1]

B model open bolt?

I could see maybe a A model open bolt in the beginning of importation, but not a B model.

:surfing

 

[RoverDave]

No open bolt UZI Carbines were ever imported by Action Arms. None. The ATF would not allow importation of the UZI Carbine as an open bolt. I've talked to people who worked at Action Arms and they confirmed it. I own pre-production guns and they are all closed bolt. The idea that the early guns were open bolt is complete BS.

 

[Glockdude1]

Another thought, maybe it has a full auto top cover holding the semi bolt back.

:surfing

 

[RoverDave]

Another thought, maybe it has a full auto top cover holding the semi bolt back.

:surfing

The auction title says it's an open bolt.

 

[Brian S.]

OR...maybe someone is trolling??

 

[Tetryl]

There was a short period of time when after market companies produced an open bolt conversion that would allow you to swap bolts. They were common at gun shows and sold by Group Industries of KY. - there was no law preventing their purchase and it was a quick easy conversion - it wasn't till some time after that they banned open bolt weapons altogether' they also produced during that short window of opportunity an open bolt MK760 that is extremely sought after.

I don't know what requirements were / are in affect to own them but up until 1986 you could legally convert firearms to full auto mode of operation with ATF consent / also to SBR status (Short Barreled Rifle)- if' open bolts were the norm and allowed to be manufactured up to 86' I could see a home gunsmith doing the conversion to get the Uzi back to as close as original specifications regardless of semi or full auto conversion. The legalities of conversion based upon dates of legal inception and proof of it / if it was done within that time table are another matter.

Just an FYI for those to young to remember.

Tetryl

 

[paintmanmatt]

Either way.....if it's an "open bolt", dosn't it make it a class 3 firearm? If Action Arms would confirm it's thier "original" import, the only thing this peice would be good for is as an investement/safe queen. I would definately have to see the guts on this before I would even look twice...............stranger things have happened........

After all, I have some Browning 1919a4 parts clearly marked by Ford Motor Company, even though the top researchers have never found contracts for them...............

The key to this one is to forward pics to AA and go from there. You would as least know for sure. I would definatley not spend a dime on speculation though.

Matt

 

[btr]

A few weeks ago someone posted an old add he found for an open bolt conversion kit for the semi-auto UZI.

Open bolt semi autos were legal for a while. I guess the old ones were grandfathered in the ATF banned making them.

 

[firefighter]

The seller cancelled the auction while he tried to figure out what he had. He said he had quite a few messages about it.
I actually exchanged quite a few emails with him. Nice guy.
Here's what he truly has.
He has all the same parts as a Model B semi auto closed bolt gun, but......
Someone, somehow, has rigidly affixed the firing pin into the bolt, basically making them as one. The seller cannot get them separated.
When you pull back the charging handle, not only does the striker stay back, the bolt does too. It's making it act as an open bolt!!
The lower bolt face is machined off just like any other semi auto Uzi bolt. The grip is unmodified and you can only select fire and safe.
I've never heard of anyone doing this before. What would they be trying to gain by doing that?

 

[Jack007]

There were quite a few open bolt semi only conversions early on. I had several offered to me at gun shows, local want ads, etc. After the open bolt MAC rulings and hoopla in '82+, they pretty much disappeared.
As far as this gun...you might be surprised at some of the things guys did in those days. He may have wanted to replicate open bolt fire w/o "modifying". It was very common for people to cross the legal lines still thinking they were legal. I knew guys who had all the M16 parts installed in their AR-15, but they were "okay" since their drop in sear was inside the buttstock.
There was a company that you could send your Uzi bolt in and they'd weld up the face with the FA feed lip. In order to "insure positive feed reliability" of course. Coincidentally, many of their customers had purchased "Kicker" conversion kits.

My guess is this gun would be unreliable at best, and borderline illegal to boot.
Jack007

 

[magitup]

Sounds to me like the striker and firing pin are stuck in the bolt. With the lack of a lip on the bolt face and the firing pin sticking out, it would never reliably feed, if at all....it also explains why the bolt stays back, it's being held by the striker....