See Folding Stock Info below.
The first SPAS-12 came with either a folding
metal stock or a detachable wooden stock.:
See Folding Stock Info
below.
The wooden stock detached:
That is "detached" as in with a screwdriver
and an allen wrench, it does not pop off.
Early on at some point the wooden stock
was replaced by a one-piece synthetic stock:
I have also read that at one time "Choate made a skeletonized plastic stock which some, especially those who find the SPAS-12 factory pistol grip too large, will find more comfortable. "
The LAW12 manual we have indicates it normally
came with the detachable wooden stock previously offered on the early SPAS12:
The manual also said
a folding metal stock was available as an option, but I've not seen one:
Note that this is
not
identical to the original SPAS12 stock, it does not latch to the
rear site like the original SPAS12 stock does. I've seen a few like
these on SPAS12's. See Folding Stock Info
below. A SPAS12 stock will NOT fit your LAW12 -- but I know of a
few people that would gladly trade you their LAW12-style stock for a SPAS12
stock. Again, see Folding Stock Info below.
The SAS12 originally came with the same
detachable wooden stock:
I have seen some at a gun show that used the one-piece synthetic stock shown above on the SAS12.
This is not as simple a subject as you might think. The part numbers referred to here may be seen here.
Metal Folder
The metal folder will mount to either style (explained below) of plastic Pistol Grip (59 & 60). It requires the Stock Stop Pin and spring (70 & 71) to hold the stock extended. Mounting it requires riveting, removing it requires drilling out the rivet, so it stays pretty much married to the grips it is installed on.
The stock is mounted with a big fancy rivet called a Stock Fastener (122) and washer (123). This can only be removed with a drill or cutter. If it isn't removed, you can't get at any of the parts internal to the two grip halves.
The Pistol Grip (59 & 60) is held to the receiver with the big bolt called a Pistol Grip Retaining Screw (63) and a washer (64). This is one of three types of bolts that screw into the big hole in the end of the receiver. This one has a tapered head for a nice appearance, and it has a hole in the middle which is not tapped, and is made of blued steel (see images below).
Detachable Wood
The wood stock requires a special variant of the plastic Grips (59 & 60). These have a special bump that holds the stock in place. See the two versions below:
These bumps don't get in the way of the metal folder, and can be used with it too. They are required for the wood stock.
A different version of the Pistol Grip
Retaining Screw is used, see below:
It has a flat head, has a center hole tapped for 1/4-20, and is made of black painted Aluminum. This hold the pistol grip to the receiver. The wooden stock is mounted using a long 1/4-20 bolt from under the butt plate into the hole on the Pistol Grip Retaining Screw.
One-Piece Synthetic
This is a very light weight stock, a good
idea if you are trying to make any of the Franchi guns lighter.
It is one -piece, meaning it doesn't need
the Pistol Grip parts (59 & 60). It mounts with a special
"Pistol Grip Retaining Screw" of sorts. It is like the one used for
the wood stock (above) but has no "head" on top, it is the same 0.707"
diameter from end to end. It fits the big hole on the receiver, is
2.75" long, and has a 1/4-20 hole in it. The synth. stock fits over
this and is secured with a 1/4-20 x 2.5" bolt.
Bottom Line
The bottom line is you just about must buy (or trade) complete sets of stock, grips, and (pretty much) mounting bolt.
I have seen two distinct styles of factory folding stocks on SPAS12's as of late, and get questions about them. The stocks differ in how they latch open -- one grabs the rear sight, the other locks back on the pistol grip.
All the information I have at this time
indicates one style is the original SPAS12 stock and the other is perhaps
designed for a LAW12. But then again, it does
have a clearance hole in it only needed to clear a SPAS12 rear sight; the
very original SPAS12 photos
in their brochure show this style on a SPAS. Perhaps they switched
to a universal style that fit both guns? I don't know any of this
100.0% for sure, don't know that Franchi never put the second style on
a SPAS12 at the factory or not, don't want to upset anyone. So I'm
just going to call these "Original" and "Alternate." I will
also say I think the Original has to be preferred.
Original Folding Stock - Note lack
of Ear, Latch Parts highlighted in yellow.
Alternate Folding Stock -- Note
Ear, lack of Latch Parts -- but it does have a clearance hole for the SPAS12
rear sight.
Note that while 3 of the needed parts
to latch to the rear sight are available (78, 84, 85), the bracket that
holds them is not (highlighted red).
This makes a conversion difficult, not to mention you'd have two locks
unless you sawed off the ear.
Tim, a reader off this site, was curious if it was legal to go put a folding stock on a SPAS that didn't come from the factory with one. The law on this subject is very confusing, I read it once and only had more questions.
He researched this and writes:
"Here is a letter from the BATF concerning SemiAuto Shotguns, and the Ban: http://www-2.cs.cmu.edu/afs/cs/user/wbardwel/public/nfalist/atf_letter87.txt
Basically, this means that it is LEGAL to take a post 89 or 94 SPAS (Fixed stock, 5 rd magazine), and add a folding stock.
You still can't legally
add the mag extension, however -- maybe."
