Axor FP-12 / PA-F / Taiga Wolwerine folding pump action shotgun (Turkey)

The Axor FP-12 / PA-F folding shotgun, also known in Canada as the Taiga Wolwerine folding shotgun, is produced in Turkey by the Axor Arms International.

The Axor FP-12 folding pump action shotgun

The Taiga Wolwerine folding pump action shotgun, a rebranded version of the Axor FP-12 sold in Canada

Based upon the old concept of the Burgess police gun, which was produced in the USA back in the late 19th century, the Axor folding shotgun is primarily an inexpensive survival / backpacking weapon. It can be stored and carried in a compact folded form, with a fully loaded magazine, and then brought to action in a matter of seconds. If required, it can be flipped up from folded to battle ready position by a single hand, with a whip of the wrist. In theory, the Axor FP-12 shotgun can be folded and then stored or carried with a live round loaded in the chamber, but this practice seems to be inadvisable due to the safety concerns.

The Axor FP-12 shotgun in folded position

There are several versions of the basic folding pump action shotgun offered by the Axor, which differ in the external finish and furniture. The basic versions seem to be a “tactical” variant with the rifle-type sights and a four-round magazine. Axor also offers a version of the same gun with longer, seven-round magazine tube and with a hunting style sighting rib on the barrel.

The Axor FP-12 folding shotgun with a ribbed barrel and a 7-shot magazine

The Axor FP-12 / PA-F / Taiga Wolwerine shotgun is a manually operated pump action repeater with a fixed tubular magazine, located under the barrel. Unlike the most pump action shotguns, this one features a two-part receiver, made from aluminum alloy. The upper receiver holds together the barrel and the magazine, and houses a bolt group. The bolt locks to the barrel extension via the single locking lug. The lower receiver houses the trigger group, the shell lifter and is used to attach the polymer stock with a semi-pistol grip. Upper and lower receiver are connected by a cross-hinge at the front, below the magazine tube mount. A single bolt-type latch with a release button is located at the rear top end of the lower receiver. The 18-inch barrel is equipped with a removable choke system, and features a fiber-optic front sight. A short length of a Picatinny rail is attached to the upper receiver to mount Red Dot sights on some variants of the gun.

Specifications for the Axor FP folding pump action shotgun

• Caliber: 12 gauge, 3” / 76mm chamber
• Length: ~ 990 mm ready to fire, ~ 660 mm folded
• Barrel length: 470 mm
• Weight: 3.5 kg empty
• Magazine capacity: 4 or 7 shells