Produced originally by the South African company Milkor (Pty) Ltd, its name 'BXP' stands for 'Blowback eXperimental Parabellum', hinting both at its operating mechanism as well as its caliber.

In this scenario, Uzi-like hand machine carbines chambered in 9mm Parabellum became popular as home defence weapons in isolated areas, particularly for use by ladies or teenagers because of their manageable recoil.

In Rhodesia, from 1976 to 1978, Bulawayo Engineering developed the Rhogun, GM Steel produced the GM15 (fully automatic) and GM16 (semi-automatic), and Stellyte Co. manufactured the Cobra submachine gun and the Scorpion machine pistol, all derivatives of the CZ Model 25 and/or the Uzi.

Arguably the most successful of the hand machine carbines of this era was Lacoste Engineering's LDP (also known as the ‘Rhuzi’, or Rhodesian Uzi), launched in Rhodesia in 1976, which was a short while later also made under licence by Maxim Parabellum in South Africa, with a few minor modifications, from 1978 onwards.

The importer then contracted Andries Piek to perform the same adaptation on the entire shipment of LDPs, which the Police then released to their buyers.

After reviewing both his original LDP and Kommando hand machine carbines, Andries Piek thought that he could design a simpler and better version, which was later to become known as the BXP (Blowback eXperimental Parabellum).

In this process, Gary Barnes made a number of small design changes, and also started using parts from the R4 rifle, such as the front sight, side-folding stock, etc.

The weapon has the same T-shape as the Uzi- and MAC-10 submachine guns, and is manufactured in semi-automatic for civilian use and fully automatic for law enforcement use.

However, the semi-automatic civilian version of the BXP fires from a closed bolt, which may be regarded as somewhat experimental in terms of the design of its action (hence the name).

Using a wide variety of available muzzle devices (including silencers, heat shields, and rifle grenades), the weapon can fire non-lethal or explosive projectiles by the means of blank cartridge in addition to normal ammunition.

As with most other firearms of this class, i.e. of the same 9mm Parabellum caliber and with barrel lengths around 8 inches (200 mm) or so, the BXP is regarded as having an effective range of about 100 meters.