Axor FS folding semiautomatic shotgun (Turkey)

The Axor FS folding semi-automatic shotgun is produced in Turkey by the Axor Arms International. Axor also makes a similar folding pump action shotgun, the Axor FP.

The Axor FS folding semi-automatic shotgun

Based upon the old concept of the Burgess police gun, the Axor folding shotgun appears to be 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 FS 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 reasons.

The Axor FS folding semi-automatic shotgun in folded position

There are several versions of the basic folding semiautomatic shotgun offered by the manufacturer, which differ in the external finish, furniture and barrel lengths. The basic versions seem to be a “tactical” variant with 20-inch barrel, rifle-type sights and a four-round magazine. Axor also offers versions of the same gun with shorter 14-inch barrels, fitted with a shoulder stock or a bird-head pistol grip.

The Axor FS folding semi-automatic shotgun with a 14-inch barrel

The Axor FS folding semi-automatic shotgun with a 14-inch barrel and a bird-head grip

The Axor FS shotgun is a gas operated semi-automatic weapon with a fixed tubular magazine, located under the barrel. The annular gas piston is located around the magazine tube, close to its forward end. Unlike the most semi-automatic 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 shoulder stock or a 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 standard 20-inch barrel is equipped with a removable choke system, and features a fiber-optic front sight. An alternate configuration sports a 14-inch barrel. 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: ~ 1040 mm ready to fire (with 50 cm barrel), ~ 670 mm folded
• Barrel length: ~500 or ~360 mm
• Weight: ~3.7 kg empty
• Magazine capacity: 4 shells