Norinco 320 Uzi

Jungle Jim

Can anyone tell me about the history of the Norinco Uzi? I bought one and would like to know about parts interchangeablity between the Norinco and IMI Uzis. Also, what are the legalities of using a shorter than 16" barrel? I My 320 is a pre-ban with the folding stock.Thanks for your help !De Oppresso Liber !Jungle Jim

lrarmsx

Jim you might want to take it back and get your money back. There is no such thing as a Pre-ban Model 320. They were originally destined to come into the country in 1988. The IMI Action Arms people protested their import claiming patent infringement and infringement of trade. The Chinese one was going to be a lot cheaper than theirs and part for part interchangeable. The rifle never made it into the country although they advertised it for almost a year.I've seen a number of people try to pass off their Model 320 as a pre-ban by taking off the thumbhole stock and adding the folder and regular grip, there are a lot of those parts available. The easy way to see if you have a pre-ban is this. Does it have the bayonet lug? (Yes real UZI's have a bayonet lug.) Does the barrel have spot welds holding the barrel cap in place? They were welded so that people couldn't change the barrel to the shorter one, not realizing that this is a feloney since a rifle must have a 16" barrel to be legal. Many people did that on the IMI semi-auto not thinking about the law. They saw the barrels available and thought "Why Not?". Often the barrel nut welds have been cut or broken, but it should be obvious if there has been any tampering. The other way to tell if it is a pre-ban is checking to see if there is a ground out circle above the info at the back of the receiver on the side. It was ground out on the post-ban. The pre-ban was supposed to have a multi-pointed star. Also the pre-ban was not named the 320, it was to be designated the "Officer's 9". I hope this clarifies what you do or don't have. Yes they are interchangeable. No they can't legally have a shorter barrel. And lastly, no you probably don't have a pre-ban and if it is post-ban you should get your money back before you get the gun confiscated and / or go to jail. If is is a true Pre-ban, you have a very rare, valuable gun. The lack of a bayonet lug is the big give away. Check it and let us know.

Jungle Jim

Wow!I truly appreciate the information you've given me. I bought this weapon from a seller on Auction Arms, item # 2004166 last week and it hasn't been shipped to me yet. I haven't seen the weapon, only photos so I can't determine if it's a true pre-ban, but my guess is that it isn't. Thanks,Jim

Jungle Jim

For the record, let me say that when I contacted the seller of this weapon, he was as surprised as I. It seems that he bought the weapon a fews years ago on Gun Broker as it is now. He immediately offered me a refund, and was very sorry this happened.Thanks again,Jim

lrarmsx

Sometimes I hate to be the bearer of bad news, but I'm not surprised in this case. There are a lot of guns out there that are not what they appear to be. Sorry it wasn't what you had hoped, but better to find out now rather than later after having the gun confiscated and getting arrested at the same time. I've had a lot of people unknowingly buy something, only to find out it isn't what they thought or were told it was. In many cases the previous owner didn't know either. There is a lot of this stuff that people don't know. I've also caught a dealer trying to pass these off before. He and I don't get along too well. I've let several guys know that their weapon is illegal as hell in its current configuration and they could get arrested for even having it in their hands. They then have told me they just bought it and point to the guy they bought it from. I've been able to prove to them by showing evidence that it is not what they were told it was and not worth what they have paid. This dealer has had to take this stuff back because he knows he has intentionally screwed these guys. As I said, he doesn't like me too much, but I don't care. I don't like to see anybody getting in trouble because somebody else has lied to them and cheated them. That dealer doesn't do it as much anymore, he knows I and others are onto him. I know enough about this stuff to actually make a pretty convincing fake, but it seems to be a lot of work just to do something wrong and illegal. It isn't worth it. There is a right way and a wrong way of doing things. If you know enough about this stuff then you can keep from getting burned yourself, otherwise it can be very difficult to know for sure what you have or are being offered. Unfortunately there are no definitive books on this stuff, you just have to have lived through the period when this stuff was or wasn't made, and pay attention. It is easy to forget some of this stuff and even easier and more likely to have never learned it in the first place. A lot of this information goes back to the 1980's and earlier. If you weren't into that stuff then, you wouldn't know this stuff today.I've had to be the bearer of bad tidings on more occassions than I'd like to remember. I'm glad to have been able to help in this instance.

Jungle Jim

I found another 320, and would like your opinion on it and it's value. It's on Gun Broker, Item # 2510123. Note the description and the officer 9 stamped in the star, etc.If you'd give me your opinion, it would be appreciated. I have many years experience using special weapons, just not Norinco.Thanks, again !Jim

lrarmsx

Jim, I guess it is up to you how much you want to spend on this thing as well as how much the reserve is. The gun appears to be exactly what a Model 320 is, a thumbhole stocked, post-ban UZI. That is the way the came. A couple of errors in the description though. The magazine they come with is marked 32rds, but is blocked to 10, easily changed. The mags were originally made in the 1980's when the guns were, but were blocked for importation in 1994. It was before the Sept. Crime Bill, so it is no illegal to make them a 32rounder again. Intrac was one of the importers along with IMI. The accessory package is standard although there were slight variations with mag loaders and oil bottles, etc. It will just be dependant as to what the reserve ends up being. If I'm not mistaken the seller is a regular here on the boards. As I remember he too got some information regarding the Model 320 some time ago. I remember giving a lot of information to someone here a couple of months ago, it may have been him or someone else. The $35 for shipping is about double of what it should cost unless he is having to pay a dealer a fee to ship it. I'd try to get an E-mail to the seller and ask him what it is going to take to get the gun. Depending on the price it might be a good deal.

competentone

I remember a few advertisements for them in the Shotgun News (must have been in '94,'95--still might have the issue(s) in one of my "piles"); they were being advertised for just under $300 then.

Jungle Jim

Well, I sure wish I could buy one for $300 now ! Unfortunately, that won't be the case on this particular weapon, as it's now been bid to $500, and the reserve isn't met. I'll just keep looking for a good used one.If anyone out there knows where I can find a legal Norinco 320 at a good price, please let me know. It's important that the weapon is legal, I have a Texas concealed carry permit, and a high security clearance and won't do anything to jepordize either.Thanks,Jim