Franchi SPAS-15

Franchi SPAS-15
Franchi SPAS-15
	SPAS-15
Type	Combat shotgun
Place of origin	Italy
Service history
In service	1986–present
Used by	See Users
Wars	Lebanese Civil War
Production history
Designer	Franchi
Designed	1984
Manufacturer	Franchi
Produced	1986–2005
Specifications
Mass	3.9 kg (8.5 lb) empty;
Length	1000 mm (39 in), stock extended; 750 mm (30 in), stock folded;
Barrel length	450 mm (18 in);
Cartridge	12 gauge
Action	Pump-action/gas-actuated, rotating bolt
Rate of fire	Semi-automatic
Effective firing range	40 m (130 ft)
Feed system	3 or 6-round detachable box magazine
	Show more

The Franchi SPAS-15 is a dual-mode 12 gauge combat shotgun manufactured by the Italian company Luigi Franchi S.P.A.

Design

The weapon is based on the SPAS-12, and has similar pump-action/semi-automatic firing modes. In semi-automatic mode, a gas piston drives a bolt carrier and rotating bolt. In pump-action mode, the same components are driven by sliding the fore-end backwards. Pump-action mode is required to reliably fire low-pressure (less lethal) ammunition such as tear gas rounds or less-lethal bean bags. Switching between firing modes is done by pressing a button above the foregrip, and sliding the foregrip slightly forwards or backwards. The barrel is chrome lined and features screw-in choke tubes.^[4]^[1]

Unlike its predecessor, the SPAS-15 is fed by a detachable box magazine.^[1] The gun features either a fixed black wooden stock or a side folding metal stock. Both had the same pistol grip safety.

Additionally, a semi-auto only variant called SPAS-16 was manufactured in small numbers.^[1]

Amongst Italian troops the weapon is known by the nickname "La Chiave dell'Incursore" (the key of the commando) because it is used to blast the locks of closed doors.^{[citation needed]}

Legality

In Italy, the SPAS-15 is a common weapon for both law enforcement and civilians.^{[citation needed]}

In Canada, the SPAS-15 is classified as a Prohibited Weapon and cannot be legally owned or imported except under very limited circumstances.^[5]

In 1994, the United States banned the importation of the SPAS-15 with close to 180 shotguns imported, but later abolished the relevant regulations.

Users

Argentina: Used by Grupo Alacrán.^[6]
Brazil: Used by BOPE, BFEsp,^[7] Federal Highway Police^[8] and Military Police GRT unit^{[citation needed]}. Small numbers were also acquired by Federal Police in 2002 but retired due to reliability issues.^[8]
India: National Security Guard.^[9]
Italy: 2,000 acquired in 1999 by the Italian Army.^[10] Also used by the Carabinieri.^[11]
Israel: Israeli special forces^[12]
Malaysia^[13]
Portugal: Portuguese Army.^[14]

Non-state users

Lebanese Forces^[15]

References

^ ^a ^b ^c ^d Walter, John (2002). The World's Elite Forces: Small Arms and Accessories. Greenhill. p. 57. ISBN 9781853674969.
^ Firearms, an illustrated guide to small arms of the world, di Chris McNab
^ Franchi SPAS-15 Manual (PDF). p. 2.
^ Jones, Richard (2009). Jane's Infantry Weapons 2009-2010. Jane's Information Group. p. 308. ISBN 978-0-7106-2869-5.
^ List of Restricted and Prohibited Firearms Archived 11 February 2010 at the Wayback Machine, Canadian Firearms Centre (CFC)
^ "wiw_sa_argentina - worldinventory". 24 November 2016. Archived from the original on 24 November 2016. Retrieved 28 February 2023.
^ "wiw_sa_brazil - worldinventory". 2 June 2016. Archived from the original on 2 June 2016. Retrieved 19 November 2022.
^ ^a ^b "The Brazilian truckers strike: PRF firearms in use -". The Firearm Blog. 4 June 2018. Retrieved 22 November 2022.
^ "NSG gets shot in arm with grenade lobbing UAVs, dogo robo". Retrieved 16 January 2023.
^ "Archived copy" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 25 October 2010. Retrieved 1 February 2010.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
^ "Arma dei Carabinieri - Home - l'Arma - Oggi - Armamento - Armamento speciale - Fucile ad anima liscia Franchi SPAS 15 MIL". Archived from the original on 8 December 2013. Retrieved 20 April 2014.
^ "Isayeret.com | the Israeli Special Forces Database". Archived from the original on 31 July 2016. Retrieved 7 June 2016.
^ Thompson, Leroy (3 December 2008). "Malaysian Special Forces". Tactical Life. Retrieved 10 February 2010.
^ "Franchi SPAS" (PDF). 17 January 2016. Archived from the original (PDF) on 17 January 2016. Retrieved 29 May 2018.
^ "Lebanese Forces: The Weapons: Pump Action Shotguns". 17 March 2016. Archived from the original on 17 March 2016. Retrieved 23 November 2022.

External links

Manual
Franchi SPAS-15 (archive) at Modern Firearms
Franchi Homepage in English
magazine patent

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[Walter-1] Walter, John (2002). The World's Elite Forces: Small Arms and Accessories. Greenhill. p. 57. ISBN 9781853674969.

[2] Firearms, an illustrated guide to small arms of the world, di Chris McNab

[3] Franchi SPAS-15 Manual (PDF). p. 2.

[Jones-4] Jones, Richard (2009). Jane's Infantry Weapons 2009-2010. Jane's Information Group. p. 308. ISBN 978-0-7106-2869-5.

[5] List of Restricted and Prohibited Firearms Archived 11 February 2010 at the Wayback Machine, Canadian Firearms Centre (CFC)

[6] "wiw_sa_argentina - worldinventory". 24 November 2016. Archived from the original on 24 November 2016. Retrieved 28 February 2023.

[7] "wiw_sa_brazil - worldinventory". 2 June 2016. Archived from the original on 2 June 2016. Retrieved 19 November 2022.

[:0-8] "The Brazilian truckers strike: PRF firearms in use -". The Firearm Blog. 4 June 2018. Retrieved 22 November 2022.

[9] "NSG gets shot in arm with grenade lobbing UAVs, dogo robo". Retrieved 16 January 2023.

[10] "Archived copy" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 25 October 2010. Retrieved 1 February 2010.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)

[11] "Arma dei Carabinieri - Home - l'Arma - Oggi - Armamento - Armamento speciale - Fucile ad anima liscia Franchi SPAS 15 MIL". Archived from the original on 8 December 2013. Retrieved 20 April 2014.

[12] "Isayeret.com | the Israeli Special Forces Database". Archived from the original on 31 July 2016. Retrieved 7 June 2016.

[13] Thompson, Leroy (3 December 2008). "Malaysian Special Forces". Tactical Life. Retrieved 10 February 2010.

[14] "Franchi SPAS" (PDF). 17 January 2016. Archived from the original (PDF) on 17 January 2016. Retrieved 29 May 2018.

[15] "Lebanese Forces: The Weapons: Pump Action Shotguns". 17 March 2016. Archived from the original on 17 March 2016. Retrieved 23 November 2022.

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