of travel when the trigger was depressed this would cause a lockup of the action that would require the user to re-lock the bolt assembly to the rear to reset the hammer and then reload the chamber. The earliest version would release the hammer on safe up to 1/4in.
There are two types of push-button safeties. Lever safeties were recalled by Franchi and were replaced through the importer American Arms in the early 1990s. SPAS-12 models feature two safeties: (i) a lever style or push button style safety, and (ii) a "quick employment safety". In theory, with the stock supported under the upper arm, the gun can be fired with one hand an example would be letting the user fire from a vehicle through the passenger-side window while driving. This hook could be rotated in 90-degree increments, so it would fit under the user's upper arm when the stock was extended. A unique feature of the SPAS-12 was the hook on folding-stock variants. This lets the operator load a specialized round into the chamber without firing the whole magazine first. The SPAS-12 has a magazine cut-off feature, which prevents loading a new round from the internal magazine when the gun is cycled. The firing mode is switched by depressing the button under the fore-grip and also sliding the fore-grip forwards or backwards until it clicks into position allowing the rotating sleeve to open or close the two gas ports. The SPAS-12 was designed to function primarily in semi-automatic mode, with the pump-action mode used to reliably fire low-pressure ammunition such as tear gas rounds or less-lethal bean bags. 2 SPAS-12, SAS-12 and LAW-12 model differences.The SPAS-12's factory retail price in its final year was US$1,500 averaged for its final sales outside the United States to non-restricted countries. In September 2004 the ban expired, but Franchi had ended production of the SPAS-12 in 2000 to focus on the manufacturing of the SPAS-15 model. Following the United States Federal Assault Weapons Ban, imports of SPAS-12 shotguns to the United States were stopped.
In 1990, Franchi renamed the shotgun the Sporting Purpose Automatic Shotgun, which allowed continued sales to the United States as a limited-magazine-capacity, fixed-stock model until 1994.
The SPAS-12 was designed from the ground up as a rugged military shotgun, and it was named the Special Purpose Automatic Shotgun. The appearance and intended purpose of the SPAS-12 initially led to its "military" designation as a combat shotgun.
The SPAS-12 was sold to military and police users worldwide, as well as on the civilian market, and has been featured in many films, TV shows, and video games. The SPAS-12 is a dual-mode shotgun, adjustable for semi-automatic or pump-action operation. The Franchi SPAS-12 is a combat shotgun manufactured by Italian firearms company Franchi from 1979 to 2000. Tube Extension 5+1, 6+1, 7+1 and 8+1 rounds, internal tube magazine The Franchi SPAS-12 with stock folded and butt hook removed to allow for aiming with the stock folded