Wonder Nine
A Wonder Nine is a semi-automatic pistol chambered in 9×19mm Parabellum with a staggered column magazine and a double-action trigger for at least the first shot.[1]
The term was coined by firearms author Robert Shimek, and became popular in American firearm-related magazines during the 1980s and 1990s by those advocating their use by police forces.[1] At the time most American police departments were still using revolvers, with the majority chambered in either .38 Special or .357 Magnum.[2]
The simplicity of being able to fire the first shot just by pulling the trigger (a prominent feature of double-action revolvers), larger ammunition capacity, and faster reloading of ammunition with the use of box magazines are the features of a semi-automatic pistol.
Examples include the Heckler & Koch VP70 (1970), Smith & Wesson Model 59 (1971),[2][3][4] CZ 75 (1975), Star Model 28 (1975), Beretta 92 (1976),[2] Steyr GB (1981), FN HP DA (1982), SIG Sauer P226 (1984), Ruger P85 (1985),[2] Walther P88 (1988), IWI Jericho 941 (1990), Vektor SP1 (1992), Heckler & Koch USP (1993), Bersa Thunder 9 (1994), Walther P99 (1997), and Steyr M (1999).
The Glock 17 (1982) is a notable contemporary to the Wonder Nines, but it's inclusion in the category is a subject of debate. Despite sharing several features, many consider the Glock design to be a distinct category.[1]
History
[edit]Prior to 1970, the only 9x19mm semi-automatic pistols with double-stack magazines available were the 13-round Browning Hi-Power (1935) and the 15-round MAB PA-15 (1966), both of which only had single-action triggers. [5]
Gallery
[edit]
FN Browning BDA-9
Heckler & Koch VP70
S&W Model 59
CZ 75BD variant, with 19-round magazine
Beretta 92FS Inox stainless steel pistol
"Fourth-generation" Glock 17
SIG Sauer P226 pistol
Ruger P89
First generation Walther P99
See also
[edit]Notes
[edit]- 1 2 3 Sodofsky, Christopher (20 March 2023). "The Rise Of The "Wonder Nine"". Shooting Times. Retrieved 6 April 2025.
- 1 2 3 4 Sadowski, Robert A. (2018). Book of Glock: A Comprehensive Guide to America's Most Popular Handgun. Skyhorse Publishing. pp. 6, 17, 251. ISBN 9781510716032.
- ↑ Trzoniec, Stanley W. (1981). Modern American Centerfire Handguns. Tulsa, Okla.: Winchester Press. p. 49. ISBN 0876913419. OCLC 7572377.
- ↑ Hartink, A. E. (2002). The Complete Encyclopedia of Pistols and Revolvers (first ed.). Edison, N.J.: Chartwell Books. p. 279. ISBN 9780785815198. OCLC 51024327.
- ↑ Clapp, Wiley (24 July 2012). "MAB P-15". americanrifleman.org.
 | This pistol-related article is a stub. You can help Wikipedia by adding missing information. |