As I have previously reported, IWI-US is going to be releasing the Uzi Pro Pistol in 2015, and showing it off at SHOT Show 2015. The press release is after the break.

IWI US, Inc.  a subsidiary of Israel Weapon Industries (IWI) Ltd., announces the return to the USA of the long-awaited UZI® PRO Pistol for the American consumer market. The UZI® brand is world renowned with sales of over 2 million carbines and pistols worldwide since 1963. Visitors to the 2015 SHOT Show in Las Vegas in January 2015 will get the first look at these new IWI handguns.

The UZI® sub-machine gun (SMG) was designed and patented by Uziel Gal who gave the production rights to the Israeli Ministry of Defense. After initial testing by the IDF, the Ordnance Corps ordered 8,000 units and the love affair with the world’s most iconic 9mm platform began.

The UZI® PRO Pistol and UZI® PRO Pistol SB are the latest evolution of that storied design, now featuring the most advanced firearms technologies. Based on the famous UZI® SMG, the UZI® PRO is purpose-built with only one goal – uncompromising performance and reliability on a robust design. This 9mm Luger Parabellum version for the American public sports an advanced polymer pistol grip that reduces weight and incorporates an integrated magazine release button for fast and easy magazine changes. The cocking handle is located on the receiver side allowing for a full-length Picatinny rail on the top receiver cover. A short Picatinny rail is also incorporated into the polymer body, mounted below the barrel, perfect for additional accessory placement.

Two versions of the UZI® PRO Pistol will be available in the US. The first is the basic pistol pictured above. But perhaps the most exciting news is that the UZI® PRO Pistol will also be offered with a side-folding Stabilizing Brace, the UZI® PRO SB, produced exclusively for IWI US by SB Tactical LLC, designers and manufacturers of the original SB15 and SB47 Pistol Stabilizing Braces that have reinvigorated the market for large frame pistols in the US.

Originally designed as a means for persons with limited mobility to operate and fire the AR-15 pistol, it soon became clear to shooters across the USA that by adding a Stabilizing Brace to their large frame pistols, they could achieve greater accuracy while enjoying an enhanced shooting experience through improved firearm stabilization and control.

The custom adaptation of the Stabilizing Brace to the UZI® PRO SB takes the application of large frame pistol control and stabilization to a new level. With the IWI brace’s unique side-folding feature, the UZI® PRO SB can be fired with or without the brace extended depending on the shooters need. With the brace in the folded position, storage space required in your safe or range bag is minimized.

The new  UZI® PRO and UZI® PRO SB feature three safety mechanisms; a conventional manual thumb safety, a firing pin block and a proven grip safety that must be fully depressed before the gun can be cocked and fired.

Simple maintenance on the UZI® PRO requires no special tools for quick and easy field stripping. Each UZI® PRO Pistol comes with one 20-round and one 25-round magazine.

The UZI® PRO Pistol (Part Number: UPP9S) has a MSRP of $1,109.00.

The UZI® PRO SB (Part Number: UPP9SB) has a MSRP of $1,309.00.

Analysis from me: no big surprises here. The addition of the Sig Brace seems to be par for course for IWI. It may make an SBR conversion easier through what appears to be an integral hinge. Street price is high ($900 and $1050) – either IWI will need to lower their margins further, or they’ll have to accept lowered sales. Still disappointed there’s no unmodified-Uzi-mag lower, or enhanced lower (ie, closer to the real Uzi Pro) being put out for those of us into AOWs.

I am genuinely curious whether my readers (all 3 of you!) think that the pricing is going to ultimately cause this gun to fail on the US market. $900 is going to be very hard to stomach when you can get a Glock 17 and 33rd mags for about half the price. (Heck, you can get a full Glock KPOS setup for $1050, if you shop around carefully.)