Editing Franchi SPAS-12 (section)

==SPAS-12, SAS-12 and LAW-12 model differences==
[[File:SPAS 12 Fixed Stock and Folding Stock.JPG|thumb|alt=Two shotguns—the top one with a folding stock and the bottom one with a fixed stock|Two of the most commonly found SPAS-12 variants: the folding-stock version (with an eight-round magazine extension) by F.I.E Corp and the fixed-stock version (with a six-round magazine extension) by American Arms Inc.]]
[[File:SPAS-12 Variants..png|thumb|(Top) Fixed stock 1990 Sporting Purpose SPAS-12 receiver. (Middle) A rare Choate-made aftermarket AR-15 grip-style skeleton stock on a 1987 SPAS-12. (Bottom) Special Purpose Collector SPAS from 1982 with the folding stock and hook.]]
[[File:Franchi Barrel Length SPAS-12 21-1-2" Bbl VS 19-7-8" Bbl.jpg|thumb|SPAS-12 21{{frac|1|2}}" barrel vs 19{{frac|7|8}}" barrel]]
Four different stock styles exist. The first version of the SPAS-12 was manufactured with a wooden detachable stock and a standard grip. Later models included the folding metal stock with a hook. After the United States imposed import restrictions on the SPAS-12 in 1989, a version was released in 1990 with the synthetic hollow fixed stock and a six-shell capacity to comply with federal regulations for sporting purposes.

Four different factory barrels were manufactured for the SPAS-12.
# (Very rare) {{convert|18|in|cm|adj=on}} "shorty" made for law enforcement/military and originally distributed mainly in France. This is the only known model to receive the pistol grip safety.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.guns.com/reviews/franchi-spas-12/ |title=SPAS-12 |work=Guns.com |access-date=22 February 2015 |archive-date=3 March 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160303234959/http://www.guns.com/reviews/franchi-spas-12/ |url-status=dead }}</ref>
# (Very rare) {{cvt|19+7/8|in|cm}} found scattered on very few of the 1983 "AL" proofed SPAS-12 shotguns. These were originally made for law enforcement/military applications.
# (Common to the United Kingdom) {{cvt|21+1/2|in|cm}} as a one-piece barrel converted to a {{convert|24|adj=on|in|cm}} UK-legal barrel. This barrel adds a {{convert|2.5|in|mm|adj=on}} choke tube brazed or silver-soldered in place.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://spas12.com/SRreview.htm |title=A UK Resident Buys One of Each |work=Spas12.com}}</ref>
# (Most common) The standard {{cvt|21+1/2|in|cm}} with sight blade muzzle ended on the barrel for the special purpose model or the pushed back sight blade with brazed extension for the sporting purpose model.

The Franchi SPAS-12 came equipped with a non-adjustable circular aperture rear sight and a large, non-adjustable blade foresight integrated into the barrel. The LAW-12 was semi-automatic only and the SAS-12 was a pump-action only. These three "sister" shotguns accepted all SPAS-12 components, notably trigger groups, barrel threaded attachments and stocks. The various magazine extension tubes of the LAW-12 and SAS-12 were never designed to be interchangeable with the SPAS-12 as this would cause issues with the gas selector switch moving from auto to pump-action on the SPAS-12 model.<ref name="spas12.com">{{cite web |url=http://spas12.com/MagazineTypes.html |title=Magazine Extension Types |work=Spas12.com}}</ref> The extensions have been known to spin off the front of the SPAS-12 during cycling if the extension was not tapered for the SPAS-12 retaining pin.

The pump-action Franchi SAS-12 could accept 3" shells but it did not have a bolt handle cut in the bolt body. The SPAS and LAW could only accept 2{{fraction|3|4}}" shells. The SAS-12 has a barrel length of {{cvt|21+1/2|in|cm}}, an overall length of {{cvt|41+1/2|in|cm}}, a weight of {{cvt|7|lb|4|oz|kg}} and a capacity of 8 rounds in the magazine + 1 in the chamber.

The semi-automatic-only '''Franchi LAW-12''' Model was also restricted by importation in 1989 and banned in 1994 with the [[Federal Assault Weapons Ban]]. The LAW-12 has a barrel length of {{cvt|21+1/2|in|cm}}, a weight of {{cvt|7|lb|4|oz|kg}} and a capacity of 8 rounds in the magazine + 1 in the chamber. The model was known to have been imported with all stock styles used on the Franchi SPAS-12. The LAW-12 models were more common with police sales as an alternative to the more expensive SPAS-12 for departments throughout the United States. The LAW-12 model was notably lighter – {{cvt|1.35|lb|kg}} – than the SPAS-12 and still maintained the same tube capacity of 8+1 shells. LAW-12 gas pistons were designed as two pieces; unlike the one-piece design of the SPAS-12, they are not interchangeable. The LAW-12 was discontinued by Franchi shortly before the SPAS-12 was discontinued in 2000.