Franchi SPAS-15
The Franchi SPAS-15 is a dual-mode 12 gauge combat shotgun manufactured by the Italian company Luigi Franchi S.P.A.
Franchi SPAS-15
Lance Cpl. Timothy Lutz · Public domain
- Name
- Franchi SPAS-15
- Field
- combat shotgun
- Period
- 1984
- Region
- Italy
Reference Check
Propose documentary evidence for Franchi SPAS-15. A contribution is never written directly as fact: identity, source, rights and evidence gates still decide.
Sign in to contribute
World of VALÉORINE
Documentary connections
Only confirmed graph relationships appear here. Images are shown only when their identity and reuse rights both pass the documentary gate.
Documentary evidence
Documentary basis
Authority files
wikidata · Q2461245 · wikipedia · Franchi SPAS-15
In this article
Key facts
Key facts
• Name — Franchi SPAS-15 • Origin — Italy • Type — Combat shotgun • Is Ranged — Yes • Service — 1986–present • Used By — See Users • Wars — Lebanese Civil War • Designer — Franchi • Design Date — 1984 • Manufacturer — Franchi • Production Date — 1986–2005 • Variants — SPAS-16 • Weight — * 3.9 kg (8.5 lb) empty • Length — * 1000 mm (39 in), stock extended • 750 mm (30 in), stock folded • Part Length — * 450 mm (18 in) • Cartridge — 12 gauge • Action — Pump-action/gas-actuated, rotating bolt • Rate — Semi-automatic Full-automatic (SPAS-16) • Range — 40 m (130 ft) • Feed — 3 or 6-round detachable box magazine
Design
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. Unlike its predecessor, the SPAS-15 is fed by a detachable box magazine. The gun features either a fixed black wooden stock or a side folding metal stock. Both had the same pistol grip safety. Additionally, a full-auto variant, the SPAS-16 was manufactured in small numbers. 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.
Legality
Legality
In Italy, the SPAS-15 is a common weapon for both law enforcement and civilians. In Canada, the SPAS-15 is classified as a Prohibited Weapon and cannot be legally owned or imported except under very limited circumstances. 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
Users
• Argentina: Used by Grupo Alacrán. • Brazil: Used by BOPE, BFEsp, Federal Highway Police and Military Police GRT unit. Small numbers were also acquired by Federal Police in 2002 but retired due to reliability issues. • India: National Security Guard. • Italy: 2,000 acquired in 1999 by the Italian Army. Also used by the Carabinieri. • Israel: Israeli special forces • Malaysia • Portugal: Portuguese Army.
Non-state users
Non-state users
• Forces_Libanaises_Flag.svg Lebanese Forces
Definition
Definition
The following is established of the heading itself. Institutional cataloguing adds that franchi SPAS-15 is recorded from 1984. Classified as a combat shotgun. It is also recorded that franchi SPAS-15 is associated with Italy.
Places
Named by the record
Places
Only places the record itself states, plotted where the house gazetteer settles their coordinates. Nothing is inferred from a name or a nationality.
- Italy
Text attribution
Licensing
Text attribution
Part of the biographical narrative on this page reuses licensed material. Its origin, revision and licence are recorded here.
The biographical narrative on this page is based on the Wikipedia article Franchi SPAS-15, revision 1374004517 (EN edition), by its contributors. VALÉORINE has edited that text and built its own documentary record around it. The reused material is available under CC BY-SA 4.0, and this page's reuse of it is offered under the same licence. Everything else on this page — the chronology, the holdings, the evidence, the plates and the connections — is VALÉORINE's own record. Sources and licences.
Notes from the source article
Cited by Wikipedia
Notes from the source article
These works are cited by the source article, in its own numbering. They are recorded as its citations, not as sources VALÉORINE has verified.
- 1.Firearms, an illustrated guide to small arms of the world, di Chris McNab
- 2.Franchi SPAS-15 Manual. 2.
- 3.Jones, Richard. Jane's Infantry Weapons 2009-2010. Jane's Information Group. 308. 2009. 978-0-7106-2869-5.
- 4.Walter, John. The World's Elite Forces: Small Arms and Accessories. Greenhill. 57. 2002. 9781853674969.
- 5.List of Restricted and Prohibited Firearms , Canadian Firearms Centre (CFC)
- 6.wiw_sa_argentina - worldinventory. 2016-11-24.
- 7.wiw_sa_brazil - worldinventory. 2016-06-02.
- 8.The Brazilian truckers strike: PRF firearms in use -. The Firearm Blog. 2018-06-04.
- 9.NSG gets shot in arm with grenade lobbing UAVs, dogo robo.
- 10.Archived copy.
- 11.Arma dei Carabinieri - Home - l'Arma - Oggi - Armamento - Armamento speciale - Fucile ad anima liscia Franchi SPAS 15 MIL.
- 12.Isayeret.com | the Israeli Special Forces Database.
- 13.Thompson, Leroy. Malaysian Special Forces. Tactical Life. December 3, 2008.
- 14.Franchi SPAS. 17 January 2016.
- 15.Lebanese Forces: The Weapons: Pump Action Shotguns. 2016-03-17.
References
Citations
References
Each reference names the institution holding it, so a reader may go to the document itself.
reference work
Secondary witnessreference work
Secondary witness
Connections
Knowledge graph
Connections
Each connection was recorded deliberately, with the basis for it kept on the internal record.
Broader subject
1- combat shotgunTerminology
Established from a fact already recorded on a verified source.
Further particulars
Held on the record
Further particulars
Open the remaining particulars
This entry is compiled from 3 catalogued sources across 3 independent registers. The registers consulted are Wikidata, Wikipedia and Allen Institute for AI. Every statement above is held against the register that stated it; where the registers are silent, the entry is silent.
The Encyclopedia exists whether or not anything is for sale. Corrections are recorded rather than overwritten, and every version of this record is kept. Published 16 August 2026.
Elsewhere in Militaria
6,095 published records in this field, each with its sources named.
- Franchi AL-48Terminology
- Franchi LF-57Terminology
- Franchi LF-58Terminology
- Franchi mod. 641Terminology
- franciscaTerminology
- Francotte rifle model 1849/56Terminology
- frangible bulletTerminology
- French 100 mm naval gunTerminology
Best supported in this field
For owners
Own an object connected with Franchi SPAS-15?
A specialist will read what you send and tell you what the house can establish, what it cannot, and whether the object is suited to sale. There is no charge and no obligation. The object stays with you throughout; nothing is shipped to us unless it is arranged in writing beforehand.