What got you interested in Uzis?

[shadeone]

Just curious as to what got all of you interested in this fine firearm?

For me personally, as a child of the 80s, it was these guys:

Chuck Norris, The Terminator, Snake Eyes (G.I. Joe) and The Punisher.

Combine that with a ridiculous amount of Uzi shaped water and cap guns available at the time, and I became obsessed.
I couldn't afford a real Uzi when I was first able to legally purchase guns so I got a Cobray / Leinad PM11/9 since it was a "similar" gun (in that it had a grip inserted 30+ round stick mag and boxy body)... It jammed like crazy so I sold it, saved up and did what I should have done in the first place and in 2004 I got a Vector Mini Uzi pistol (now SBR)... The rest is history!

p.s. I learned trigger discipline from alternate sources

I know for some members of this board, their Uzi is just another one of their guns in their extensive collection that they shoot and don't pay much attention to the history of, but for those of us who place it #1 on the list and study it's history etc, what put it there for you?

 

[HKMP5]

Chuck Norris for sure

 

[MunsonMan]

Back around 1978 or so I read a book about the Israeli unit that was formed to avenge the '72 Munich terror killings. Can't for the life of me recall the title, but the cover jacket had a brilliant blue Star of David with an UZI right below it. Love at first sight!

 

[Starvingboy]

Cultural influences during my formative years I'm actually NOT an UZI guy, but my first SBR was a Sterling, for obvious reasons. I SBR'd my 870 just because "Some Day" I'm going to build a M41 pulse rifle. I keep meaning to lean on Brian over at BRP to see if I could get him to tackle the project. His modular tube guns seem like they would lend themselves to the project.

 

[Z06]

As an industrial designer since 1971 I have always appreciated firearms for their form and function. The designs of Uziel Gal are superb in both criteria and I started by buying a NIB Model A. I always stored it with the display barrel as this was the "correct" configuration that matched the SMG. Since I lived in WA I never had what I REALLY wanted... full auto.
After 30 years we moved to AZ and my goal was to get the "Big 3": M16, UZI SMG, and a FA AK-47. First bought the M16 followed less than 12 months later by a NIB Vector full size SMG. (AK never happened) Two years later I found a private AZ sale for a Vector Mini SMG.
Today the Silver Bullit (Hose) is my only full auto and my favorite of all time.

 

[rhouston8]

Just had to have one. Classic that belongs in any MG collection really. Other than that no specific reason I guess.
But then once you get a full size then you start jonesing for a mini...then a micro.
MGs are such a terrible addiction.

 

[root]

Just curious as to what got all of you interested in this fine firearm?

For me personally, as a child of the 80s, it was these guys:

Chuck Norris, The Terminator, Snake Eyes (G.I. Joe) and The Punisher.

Combine that with a ridiculous amount of Uzi shaped water and cap guns available at the time, and I became obsessed.
I couldn't afford a real Uzi when I was first able to legally purchase guns so I got a Cobray / Leinad PM11/9 since it was a "similar" gun (in that it had a grip inserted 30+ round stick mag and boxy body)... It jammed like crazy so I sold it, saved up and did what I should have done in the first place and in 2004 I got a Vector Mini Uzi pistol (now SBR)... The rest is history!

p.s. I learned trigger discipline from alternate sources

I know for some members of this board, their Uzi is just another one of their guns in their extensive collection that they shoot and don't pay much attention to the history of, but for those of us who place it #1 on the list and study it's history etc, what put it there for you?

^^^^THIS^^^^^

I have a SWD 9mm NIB bought it from a friend who needed cash had my MAC-10 and IMI UZI 1st.
That could be one reason I never shot the SWD 9mm

I have a FS UZI and a mini UZI
Mini is a parts kit gun I built on a GI 80% using the instructions from Suka5168 link here.
https://www.ebay.com/itm/132584627022
Hardest part about the mini build was finding the stock in 2005 NO ONE had a mini stock for sale.
Finally lucked out and got a complete parts kit from a board member so it even has the correct trunnion in it.

For me the UZI has always been a classic gun

Rich

 

[Ben Dover]

I attended SARCON 2007, and was hooked..

 

[ATCDoktor]

Coworker got me interested.

He shot SMG Matches and got me hooked.

I wanted to buy a MAC and he shared that my “first” should be an Uzi.

He was correct.

 

[heimue]

I used the Uzi as my primary weapon in the German military in the 80es, and just loved it. Since I live in the US now for the last 20 years (being a proud citizen for 13 years) the Uzi is on top of my preference list. I have an original Vector FS SBR, and the Walther 22LR carbine. FA is not within my price range / priority.
Just love them 'lil toys...

Dieter

 

[firefighter]

My first "media unfriendly" gun was a semi auto Mac pistol in 9mm. I'd always wanted one.
Well the Mac internet forum I was a member of, at the time, shut down, so I looked for another one to join. I found and joined Uzitalk for the Mac group.
It didn't take me long to stray over to the Uzi side and I got hooked.... bad... LoL...
The more I read, the more I wanted one. Since I can't own full auto in my state, my first Uzi was the Uzi pistol in .45, and it came with the 9mm conversion kit.
From there my desire turned into a disease, just like Shadeone. I had to have every variant and caliber I could get my hands on... and also absolutely every accessory and memorabilia item I could track down.... and there's a bunch of those!!! It's an obsession for sure!!
During my searches, I've met some awesome people and collectors who share the same passion I have.
It's been a fun road and I don't see an end in sight. It's been a great journey for sure.

 

[RMA]

Just had to have a full size Uzi to accompany the few classic MG's I currently own, I just wish I had purchased the Mini I had seen listed right around the time I had purchased the full size 6 years back or so.

 

[SecondAmend]

This:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Lnjiy85ExcA

 

[ole442]

The UZI caught my attention after John Hinkley tried to assassinate President Reagan. The SS agent on the alert while trying to deploy the folding stock on his UZI stuck in my mind. Once I had my first AA Model B back in the 80's, I was hooked. The UZI is my favorite gun. Everyone who has shot it loved it. My wife loves it except it weighs too much in her opinion! My buddy was shooting a revolver in the next lane to me and stopped in his tracks, laid the revolver down and watched me shoot the center out of the target.

 

[fortyfive1911a1]

The big moment for me was when I was 7 years old in the early 90s and my Dad was stationed in Germany (Army tank commander). There were Dutch soldiers training with the Americans and there happened to be a group of them hanging out at Popeyes on post and they all were carrying Uzis. I don’t think I even tasted my lunch I was so laser focused on their Uzis. Sold for life. Now I’ve shot full autos a lot and have my semi carbine. Still feel like that 7 year old every time I shoot one (even my semi).

 

[Mr.Maim]

The UZI caught my attention after John Hinkley tried to assassinate President Reagan. The SS agent on the alert while trying to deploy the folding stock on his UZI stuck in my mind. Once I had my first AA Model B back in the 80's, I was hooked. The UZI is my favorite gun. Everyone who has shot it loved it. My wife loves it except it weighs too much in her opinion! My buddy was shooting a revolver in the next lane to me and stopped in his tracks, laid the revolver down and watched me shoot the center out of the target.

That is exactly what came to mind when I read the title of this thread.

It certainly wasn't my first knowledge of the Uzi, but it was my first realization about how widely it was used.

Good article with photos here:
https://rarehistoricalphotos.com/attempted-assassination-reagan-1981/

 

[pmf]

I wanted to buy a machine gun and it was one of the more affordable choices. Plus, for a lower end machine gun, it is very iconic. everyone knows exactly what an uzi is when they see it.

 

[Mackjack]

The terminator.

Uzi nine millimeter!

 

[sniperdoc]

Webster's Sporting Goods catalog picture.
I fell in love at first sight!

 

[9mmsubgun-m11]

Sex appeal-nuff said.