One of the interesting new releases on the floor at the NRA Annual Meetings in Atlanta last week was an entry into the 12-gauge "not a shotgun" category by IWI. 

Dubbed the Mafteah – Hebrew for "key" – it is a 12-gauge semi-auto with a 3-inch chamber. However, born sans stock and with an abbreviated 14-inch barrel, it doesn't meet the federal guidelines to be considered a shotgun, and thus can't be a short-barreled shotgun, putting it above NFA red tape.

In short (pun intended), it is in the same category of firearm as the Mossberg 590 Shockwave and 990 Aftershock, and the Remington V3 TAC-13 and 870 TAC-14.

"It is said the Key of Solomon could do almost anything, contain anything or anyone, and open any passageway one might need," notes IWI on the new platform. "This one isn’t quite so magical, but it will do a number on opening doors."

The Mafteah runs on a recoil-operated system with the recoil spring around the magazine tube, much like the iconic Browning Auto-5 and Remington Model 11. Unlike those autoloaders, it has an overall length of just 27.75 inches. 

The IWI Mafteah's MSRP is $999, which is about $100 below the new Mossberg Aftershock.