Unicorn Pair Secured: Consecutive Springfield Armory Imported IMI Uzi Pistols (2 of <250 Pre-Ban Imports)
Hey everyone,
I wanted to share a recent unboxing and a piece of rare IMI import history that just landed in my collection.
What you're looking at is an intact, unfired, consecutive serial-numbered pair (UP20198 & UP20199) of factory-original Israel Military Industries (IMI) Uzi Pistols, imported under the ultra-scarce Springfield Armory contract right at the end of the pre-ban import window in 1993.
The History & The "Sub-250" Springfield Import
While Action Arms (Philadelphia, PA) handled the vast majority of commercial IMI Uzi imports throughout the 1980s, Springfield Armory (Geneseo, IL) stepped in right at the final buzzer in 1993 to import a tiny overage micro-batch just before federal import restrictions permanently closed the door.
Total Import Footprint: Documented by advanced collectors and import registries as fewer than 250 total units worldwide bearing the Springfield rollmark.
The Serial Block: These late-run imports occupy a micro-sequence within the UP20000 block (typically spanning from the UP20100s through the UP20500+ bracket).
The Rollmarks: The left side of the receiver bears the classic factory stamping: UZI PISTOL / 9mm Para / IMI ISRAEL
The right side carries the distinct importer rollmark: SPRINGFIELD ARMORY USA / GENESEO IL
Packaging & Presentation
Unlike the earlier Action Arms imports that shipped in the iconic royal blue molded plastic hardshell clamshells, these late-run 1993 Springfield Armory overage units shipped directly in utilitarian yellow/blue/white cardboard boxes featuring MTM cases, factory manuals, sight tools and period-correct packaging.
Both of these pistols came complete-in-box (CIB) with matching hand-written factory end-label stickers reflecting their respective serials (UP20198 and UP20199), matching manuals, sight tools, and factory magazines.
Acquisition & Provenance
I managed to lock down both of these through an auction setup where the seller was liquidating a single-owner collection. Turns out, the original owner was a former U.S. political liaison to Israel who acquired them straight out of the initial import batches entering Geneseo back in '93.
Finding a single standalone Springfield Armory-imported Uzi Pistol is a major collector milestone but keeping a physically consecutive pair intact with matching period boxes after 30+ years of secondary market circulation is a total market anomaly.
Check out the pictures attached and let me know what you think!