What is the origin of this term and does it apply primarily to S&W Model 59s ?

I believe it may have been Jeff Cooper...........He also called "em" krunchentickers.

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S&W Accumulator

OK, just kidding. It was a writer by the name of Robert Shimek that worked for Guns and Ammo back in the day.

It had nothing to do with Model 59s specifically

He passed away around 2000

BTW, he was a huge Model 27 Enthusiast

[QUOTE=colt_saa;138639550]

wonder nine

In my experience, this term was coined when the military was looking for a new hi cap 9mm gun. Sig 226, Beretta 92, & other similar guns were called 'wonder nine". GARY

My guess would be the media . . .

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Wisdom comes thru fear . . .

He doesn't seem to say who coined the phrase though. Plus, I have to wonder what a 5th Generation S&W semi auto is.

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Can open, worms everywhere.

I doubt you'll ever be able to establish who "invented" the term. You'd have to go through every English-language gun publication and book ever to determine where it appeared in print for the first time, and then hope nobody said it before that, and it's not like coining that phrase would have been a particularly exotic or ingenious linguistic accomplishment.

I do remember that it surfaced in the 80s primarily as a derogatory term, used by 1911 worshippers to make a show of their disdain for the increasing popularity of the hi-cap 9mm pistols. I don't find that the term really has been part of the vocabulary for many years since that type of pistol has become the standard for service handguns everywhere.

It was Robert Shimek in one of the gun magazines.

Origin of the term/word "wonder nine," "wondernine" or "one der nine" has been debated more than once.

Most often credited with the origination are Jan Libourel and the late Robert T. Shimek, both of whom were longtime writers and editors for gun-magazine staples like Guns & Ammo and Gun World. (Given that a writer's "home" is where the best seat cushion is found, both Libourel and Shimek plied their journalistic trade in a number of capacities in a number of publications, some longlasting, others not so much and, sometimes, working together.)

In 1994 Libourel settled the matter in his "Handgunner's Glossary," which was first published in 1994's "Handguns Annual." It's something that may prove to be a valuable reference to many, even today. In it, Libourel wrote:

"Wondernine:

"A term coined by gunwriter Robert T. Shimek to denote the modern breed of 9mm Parabellum auto pistols of recent design, usually featuring high magazine capacity and a double-action trigger mechanism or other modern ignition system (e.g., the squeeze-cocker of the Heckler & Kock P7 series or the Safe Action of the Glock)." (SIC)

Later.

Probably someone who's never experienced the pleasure and confidence that comes from shooting a pistol chambered in .45acp.

I had that copy of G&A somewhere - might even still; was their cover story

There is another angle to the whole "wondernine" mantra that is often lost today. Folks who were involved in the scene in the 80's and early 90's remember well that which younger folks these days aren't necessarily aware of...

The 9mm as a service/defense round was almost universally agreed upon as inferior. Bullet technology (and to a lesser extent, propellant technology) has certainly made the 9mm more capable these days than in 1986.

So when a 9mm double action hi-cap was dubbed "wondernine", it was just as often a derogatory term. It carried a thinly veiled inference that if you actually needed to shoot someone with it, it sure was a good idea that you had 15rds on board because you would need lots and lots of hits to get the effect you wanted/needed.

Back in those days, word traveled via print journalism and the conversations in dusty old gun ships with crabby old men in them. There was no sharing of information and experiences in online gun forums and there were no creative hobbyists that did all manners of ballistic testing on JHP's.

Basically, you had the after action inquiries in large police incidents and you had the print media.

If the folks in this forum want to see a very PURE example of a sign of the times, I would point you to the fantastic S&W 3906.

Who has one... better question-- who wants one?! These pistols are amazing, I have two and love them both, but if you know the 3906, you also know they are scarce, hard to find.

That's because S&W quickly found back in the late 80's that virtually NOBODY had any use for a full-size, heavy all-steel and low-capacity single stack 9mm. In 1989, this was a recipe for "no sales" and so S&W dropped the model.

Back then, using a 9mm for serious work was questioned -- to choose a heavy, full size 9mm with and 8-rd magazine was almost ludicrous.

It was derogatory and if it wasn't Jeff Cooper then it was Robert Shimek but the Colonel used the term a lot. I don't know when, precisely, that it hit but I would venture to say that it was during S&Ws 2nd Gen time period because the supply of 9mm high capacity pistols became more common at that point if memory serves....

The whole issue of the "wonder nine" was the existence of firepower of 13 rounds or more. It allowed criticism of the guns in the hands of anyone untrained who could just "spray and pray" and hope to win a gunfight. Except in a few cases I don't think that the country was inundated by gunfights with hundreds of rounds being expended - we all know of a few - but I think that between the new high capacity 9mms and the fact that the .45 ACP was being ignored in favor of this "European" caliber the derogatory term "wonder nines" was conceived.

My first Wondernine was a Star 30P
Had been using a Taurus Model 66 in .357,
was at the Gulf Breeze Gun Shop and was shown
the Star as a lark...but once I held it, knew it was
exactly what I wanted...paid $300 for it & two extra mags.

Since I was used to wheelguns, my shooting style
was based on carefully placed shots. The light recoil
of the Star 30P made it SO much more pleasant!
With time I got pretty darn speedy with the shooting...
as once you know Exactly where a particular gun is
going to put it's shots when you aim, you can get into
that "Point-Shoot" type deal and Miculek it
(He's still better & faster, but I'll make ya worry at a tourny!)

Had some hard times in the late 90's and sold it, still have
two mags sitting in my desk drawer, waiting for me to
find another & bring it home

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Marlin & Calico Specialist