Wonder Nine

{{Short description|Category of semi-automatic pistols}}

{{Use dmy dates|date=January 2025}}

{{Use American English|date=May 2014}}

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.{{cite web | url=https://www.shootingillustrated.com/content/the-rise-of-the-wonder-nine/ | title=The Rise Of The “Wonder Nine” | publisher=Shooting Times | date=March 20, 2023 | accessdate=6 April 2025 | author=Sodofsky, Christopher}}

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. At the time most American police departments were still using revolvers, with the majority chambered in either .38 Special or .357 Magnum.{{cite book | title=Book of Glock: A Comprehensive Guide to America's Most Popular Handgun | publisher=Skyhorse Publishing | author=Sadowski, Robert A. | year=2018 | pages=6, 17, 251 | isbn=9781510716032}}

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 "wonderful" features of a semi-automatic pistol.

Examples include the Heckler & Koch VP70 (1970), Smith & Wesson Model 59 (1971),{{cite book |last=Trzoniec |first=Stanley W. |title=Modern American Centerfire Handguns |year=1981 |publisher=Winchester Press |location=Tulsa, Okla. |isbn=0876913419 |oclc=7572377 |page=[https://archive.org/details/modernamericance0000trzo/page/49 49] |url=https://archive.org/details/modernamericance0000trzo/page/49 }}{{cite book |last=Hartink |first=A. E. |title=The Complete Encyclopedia of Pistols and Revolvers |year=2002 |publisher=Chartwell Books |location=Edison, N.J. |isbn=9780785815198 |oclc=51024327 |page=279 |edition=first}} CZ 75 (1975), Star Model 28 (1975), Beretta 92 (1976), Steyr GB (1981), Glock 17 (1982), FN HP DA (1982), SIG Sauer P226 (1984), Ruger P85 (1985), 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).