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Many well-known European arms makers have offered 9mm rimfire guns in their product line. Germany seems to be the most prolific nation of origin. Some noted manufacturers from Germany include Alfa, Anschutz, Erma, Geco, Muchler and Simson & Co. Other continental makers include Fabrique Nationale and Bayard (Belgium), Webley & Scott (England), St. Etienne (France), Bernardelli and Beretta (Italy), and Husqvarna (Sweden).

While most 9mm shotguns seen in the United States were manufactured between 1900 and 1940, the design remained popular in Europe after WWII and a few firms still produce them today, the vast majority of which are single shots. I have never seen or heard of a magazine-fed 9mm bolt action garden gun.

OUR AMERICAN COUSIN

The sole American-made firearm chambering the 9mm rimfire is a bolt action: the Winchester Model 36. Introduced in 1920, there were about 20,000 units made by the time production stopped in 1927. The Model 36 used basically the same action as the popular Winchester Models 1900, 1902 and 1904 single shot boys’ Rifles in .22 caliber. The action was originally designed by John Browning and has a small bolt handle and short action. It sported an 18-inch barrel and a gumwood stock. Winchester marketed this model as a “Garden Gun” for use on small pests and birds at close ranges. Unfortunately, the Model 36 did not have a definite niche within the U.S. market. In most cases a single shot .22 would have been a better choice for upclose use and a centerfire shotgun would have worked better in the open field.