Original Film Prop IMI UZI with Folding Stock From Ellis Props – As Used in Hollywood Film Air America Original Items

Original Item: Only One Available. This is a full scale metal replica non-firing prop IMA UZI with folding stock as used in the 1985 Hollywood film Air America.

Air America is a 1990 Vietnam War comedy directed by Roger Spottiswoode and stars Mel Gibson and Robert Downey Jr. as American civilian pilots who are employed by the CIA in a secret program that provided unofficial transportation of arms and goods into the country of Laos during the Vietnam conflict.

A full-size Uzi is seen in the hands of Air America pilots Gene Ryack (Mel Gibson) and Babo (Tim Thomerson). The Uzi was officially adopted in 1951 by the Israeli Army. During this time period, the CIA purchased Uzis from FN in Europe and these were issued to special types, and there are reports of them being used by Air America/CIA personnel. Since the film takes place in 1969, it is not unreasonable that a gunrunner would be able to have one in Laos during the time of the Vietnam War.

Multiple UZI prop guns were used in making the movie and there is no way for us to know exactly which one this is, but we do know it was used in making the film. The original ELLIS AUCTION LABEL IS STILL ATTACHED to the fore stock of this prop gun and reads DAY 5, LOT 5865 .

This fantastic example acquired from the Ellis Props and Graphics liquidation auction. Ellis was the oldest and the largest Prop Houses in the World until it went our of business in the early 2000s.

The vast Ellis collection was acquired beginning in 1908, when a pawn shop, Ellis Mercantile, began renting merchandise to early filmmakers. According to Ellis Props, it began when a studio employee wanted to buy a glass eye. The pawn shop decided to rent it in case the owner returned, and it continued the practice with other items.