TM UZI review

TokyoMarui UZI
by David Jones (aka Inferno)

	Stock Specifications
*Model*	TM UZI (Mechbox Ver 5, EG1000r)
FPS	247FPS/0.2g
Length:	655mm
Weight:	2000g
Ammo capacity:	40 rounds (standard)

I finally decided that the clogged and overflowing toilet can wait for once, and everyone needs to know about the wonders of the poor man's MP5 anyways, so here goes...

A lot of people see the UZI as the "Poor man's MP5." True, but not true. Both have the same stock performance (small battery, 220-rnd. hi-cap, folding stock, etc), but picking the UZI was, at least for me, a matter of what looked better. To start, the UZI does not have the ergonomics of the HK gun, and the stock isn't exactly out of the way when folded in. The HK MP5 A5 stock just seems to disappear when slid back in, but both guns are based on the real-steel, so Marui isn't to blame. The safety catch is easy to reach but, like the magazine catch, wasn't designed with left-handed people in mind. Remember, this gun originated from the Middle East... the culture there dictates that you eat with your right hand & wipe your @$$ with the left, so not many people there are lefties. Still, lefties here have told me that it isn't really a problem since they use their index finger to switch it. The sights are a pain, but I didn't care for the sights on my old SD5 either... I just don't like peep sights. Doesn't matter, nobody aims with this gun anyways; this thing was designed for "dumping" BB's. That leads to the next issue...

Performance: like most AEG's its size, proper hop-up insures that the .25's fly out straight for about 100 feet. The 220-rnd. mag doesn't do the EG1000R motor any justice, and the AK-type battery dies after three or four mags. So, bring several hi-caps and another battery. Given the ROF & the fact that this is a close-in weapon, I'm gonna lay off of upgrading it for now. Well, that and the fact that I'm not comfy with popping open this new mechabox design. It's made of some sort of weird composite plastic, and anything higher than a stick spring is a very bad idea. Oh, the mechabox! Forget that "Real-Shock" rubbish. You won't notice it after the first three mags. No kick at all, probably because all that metal absorbs it. For those interested in the gun's composition, the usual parts are metal (cocking handle, hi-cap, stock, trigger, etc.), but the added bonus is that the receiver cover & sights are as well. The gun certainly has some heft to it. I suggest getting a sling. Now to shoot people with it on the field...

The field I play at in Kaneohe is a nice mix of thick ferns, heavily tangled vines, open "speedball" terrain, and semi-dense woods. With the exception of the open field, the gun shines. I keep the stock out most of the time, I just love it! It aims very well with the stock out. It is also comforting to know that if needed, I can just stick it out around the corner and spray who ever is there. I've been in tight spots with a guy three feet away from me and could not figure out for the life of me, how I was gonna get my AK or M3 up & shoot him before getting nailed myself. There is comfort in knowing that the stream of BB's from this little gun will saw through light vegetation (ferns, grasses, etc.), and guys behind barriers on the speedball field can expect something to get through the holes.With a sling, you can climb up a tree and stay well-hidden. I took an XM up a tree once and spent half the time sticking leaves in it to conseal it.

Customizing: Okay, there are guys out there wondering about this, and one of the guys on the team I play with was nagging me to get the RIS for it, but... nahhh. Maybe later. I think that customizing should be left to full-size battle rifles & shotguns. I don't mean to offend anyone, but people putting scopes and suppressors on MP5 K's & PDW's just seems silly to me... SMG's should just be left stock. So to conclude, get this gun for the hell of it. If you don't have a lot of cash, opt for something that needs less batteries & hi-caps. For anyone else looking to stand out from the MP5 crowd, this just might be your ticket. Well, until the P90 hi-caps come out. Until then, I'm using my UZI.

by David Jones (aka Inferno)

Conclusion

Appearance	4/5
Build Quality	5/5
Performance	5/5
Value 4 money	4/5
Overall Potential	3/5 The UZI gets a 3 for Potential because of the lack of upgrades available.

History of the real UZI: Michael Frank dropped me a line with regards to the review, and I thought this would be a worthy additon to the review. True it's not 'Airsoft' but it is an interesting read.

"...My name is Michael Frank, I live in Israel. I saw your TM Uzi review and because just ten days ago the inventor of the Uzi passed away, I thought it might be nice if I'll send some data about the history of the Uzi.

The Uzi was developed during the late 1940's and beginning of the 1950's by a man named Uzi Gal (hence the name of the gun) and his IMI (Israely Military Industries) team. The Uzi SMG is partially based on a German SMG (I don't know the name of the SMG). The ideas taken from that German SMG had more to do with the general outline of the Uzi SMG not the internals.Uzi Gal presented the SMG to his commander and later to the Prime Minister of Israel. At first the army was a bit skeptic about the weapon and was afraid to manufacture the new and untested weapon, however after many tests a limited order of a 100 units was made by the army. Eventually the Uzi SMG provided a much needed replacement for the Stan and Thompson SMGs which had many problems and jammed quite a bit. The Uzi soon became the official Israely army's weapon of choise (the m1a1 carabine was also in use and later replaced by the m-16). In addition many armies across the world decided to adopt the Uzi, the first of them was the Belgian F.N factory back in 1958 and by 1960 more than 50 states worldwide used the Uzi as a primary weapon.

The Uzi SMG may shoot (depends on how you buy it) all types and sizes of ammo. It is 660 mm long with stock folded. And weighs 4500g (depends on the exact model you buy).

Eventually during the late 1960s the Israely army completely replaced the Uzi and began using the american M-16, and later the Israely Galil. However the Uzi was not through, it became a weapon for those who need a SMG but want it concealed. One historical moment which proves this point is when you see Ronald Raigan's body guard pulls an Uzi from his jacket during the attempted assassination on raigan's life. During the 1970s and 80s many more variations of the Uzi were developed by Israel (e.g Uzi pistol, micro Uzi, etc.). Since the first 100 units were made for the Israely army till today the Uzi and its variants's production was never stopped and the Uzi sells by the thousands. It is astimated that Israel has made aroud 2-12 billion dollars from the Uzi, the money range inaccuracy is because many Uzis were sold secretly, and even more was traded for equipment.

A little about Uzi Gal, the inventor of the Uzi SMG. Uzi Gal was Born in Germany in the year of 1924 and while he was still a little boy he came to Israel with his family. Ever since childhood here in Israel he tried to make weapons and actually never officially learned how to be a weapons engineer. To tell you the truth it is actually the UK's fault he became good at 'weapons smithing'.During the mandate the UK had in Israel he was caught and send to jail for having an illegal 'Stan' and 'Thompson' parts. In jail he refined his knowledge in weapons through correspondence with a real weapons engineer. During the last year Uzi Gal suffered from cancer and he passed away ten days ago in the age of 78 in the USA, where he resides since 1976. He died in the Jewish new year's evening, by Jewish tradition it is a great honor reserved for truly great people to die on such a date..."

Michael Frank.

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