First announced on April 24 and launched on the US market at the 2025 edition of the NRA Annual Meeting & Exhibits by IWI US – the American branch of IWI - Israel Weapon Industries Ltd. – the Mafteah is a semi-automatic, 12-gauge shotgun (by European laws) or "Firearm" (by US laws) featuring a birdshead grip and a 35,5 cm / 14-inch barrel.

Named after the legendary Key of Solomon that "could do almost anything, contain anything or anyone, and open any passageway one might need", the IWI Mafteah is manufactured in the United States in a short, horizontal grip configuration (like the Mossberg 990 Aftershock we wrote about lately) to comply with the provisions of the 1934 National Firearms Act. 

As per NFA provisions, all guns "originally designed to be fired from the shoulder" featuring a barrel shorter than 18 inch are considered "Short Barrel Shotgun", whose purchase and ownership requires an extensive Federal background check, full registration, submitting one's photograph and fingerprints, the payment of a 200$ tax for each sample, and written BATFE clearance for transporting the gun across State lines.

By featuring the "Birdshead" grip in lieu of any sort of buttstock or even just a horizontal grip, the IWI Mafteah and similar other models no longer fall under the "Short Barrel Shotgun" category and are instead classified as generic "Firearms", no longer tied to the restrictions that define SBS.

The IWI Mafteah is recoil-operated and features a sturdy recoil spring wrapped around the magazine tube just like the legendary Browning Auto-5: this system guarantees total reliability even in such a short firearm. The blued 4140 steel barrel comes with a ventilated sighting rib, topped by a bead front sight.

The forend and birdshead grip are manufactured out of black reinforced polymer; the forend comes with three cooling slots on each sides, while the grip – whose backstrap slightly protrudes on to the rear portion of the receiver – features a set of QD sling swivel cups.

Both also feature rubberized inserts on contact surfaces for a firm grip and control in all conditions and with any load; for the same reason, an embossed strap is attached to the bottom of the forend.

The matte black aluminum receiver features a machined Glock MOS type interface on top, allowing the installations of many popular micro red dot sights via a set of adapter plates. Sights incompatible with the MOS system can be used by installing a short Picatinny rail to the interface.

To make handling easier even when using gloves, the IWI Mafteah features a crossbolt safety located behind the trigger; an enlarged, high-profile bolt release button; and a knurled, enlarged charging handle that can be swapped to either side for left-handed or right-handed shooters.

Standing at 704 mm / 27.3⁄4" in overall length and weighing in at 2,57 kilograms (5lbs 11oz) when empty, the IWI Mafteah offers a capacity of five 70 mm / 2.¾" shotshells of four 76 mm / 3" shotshells, plus one in chamber.

The manufacturer's suggested retail price on the US market is set at $999.99; for further information, local availability and pricing included, visit the official IWI US website or consult the authorized IWI distributor for your Country.