I have no use for this thing, but couldn't resist. An older couple came into the shop with a few old guns to consign. One was this unmarked single shot bolt action 9mm Flobert rimfire "Garden Gun". I didn't think much of it at first, but as they do, it grabbed my heart strings. He had a box and a half of modern RWS ammo and a partial box of antique Winchester paper shells. After he left, I fired one round of the RWS at a dove target at about 12 yards and it threw a beautiful little pattern. Before I knew it, I had signed the adoption papers,
Other than the serial number and "8.50", there are no markings, other than a proof mark. I assumed it was Germanic, but the proof shows it to be French. It is in great shape and has a case colored bolt. It weighs a whopping 2 lbs 12 oz. I have no idea what I'll do with it, but in all honesty it will get used as much as many other guns in the safe...
Evidently, there are still a metric sh*t-ton of similar guns still being made and used in Europe. I watched a video of a British guy living in France who said until at least the '90s, you could even buy them in "super markets".
Wow, I can see how that would grow on you. Cool little rifle, can a person still find ammunition for it?
Fiocchi still makes it in 6, 7.5, 8 & 9 shot but it doesn't exactly grow on trees. Midway only has the 7.5s in stock, damn near $60 per 50. I got about 65 shootable rounds with it and honestly I'll probably never shoot all those. That said, I'd like to eventually get a box of each of the four sizes just for the heck of it.
I've always found the round to be interesting and having a few of the Winchester model 36 9mm guns on hand I like to shoot in and around the garden. They are extremely fun to shoot. The Fiocchi ammo is the way to go as you said and I did grab some from Midway USA last year in the various sizes. I recently grabbed some more at a cartridge show locally and am always looking for some more. I won't shoot my Winchester Collectable ammo as it's a little pricey for collectors, being a paper cartridge. Collectors try to buy up the older Winchester paper cartridges whether in a full box or individually. Interesting post. Thanks, HS 58
I Learned a long time ago to Separate My Want's from My Needs!
Yeah, I got a partial box of the original paper Winchesters with the gun but won't shoot them either. Very cool to think of another time when one could walk into a hardware store and say "I'll take a box of 9mm rimfire shotgun shells with that shovel."
That's them! Some of the cartridge collectors sell them individually at the shows for $20 bucks each, or more! Then theirs the empty box that sells also! People love displaying the colorful empty boxes with their collections in their so called "caves"!
Interesting stuff.
Winchester model 36 was made from 1920-1927 with a total production of approximately 20,000 mfg. and the ammunition was made in a few varieties, such as 9mm. ball, 9mm. shot,(Long), and 9mm. shot,(short). The Short caliber boxes are a little scarce and command premiums. The Long being the most popular and usually found around the world in the "Flobert" falling block actions and similar. I'm pretty sure the last Winchester ammo was mfg. into the 1950's. Regardless we can still get the Fiocchi brand along with the RWS, and a few other foreign made 9mm. shot caliber ammo in a few various sizes.
HS 58
I Learned a long time ago to Separate My Want's from My Needs!
I purchased a German Buchsflinte .22lr/9mm Flobert a while back just because it looked interesting. It is a side by side hammer gun in great shape that seems to shoot very well. I picked up a couple boxes of Flobert ammo at Midway so am all set for the chipmunk invasion!
bernadeli makes a modern magazine fed semi auto 9mm shotgun. owned it. shot it. got tired of it. sold it. made 100 bucks....all within 2 years. hot potato!
Retired Military Aviation Former Member, Navy Shooting Team Distinguished Pistol Shot NRA Certified Instructor/RSO
bernadeli makes a modern magazine fed semi auto 9mm shotgun. owned it. shot it. got tired of it. sold it. made 100 bucks....all within 2 years. hot potato!
bobski, I wasn't aware of that one either. Interesting also. Don't think I'd pursue one personally but intersting.
Thanks for posting, HS 58
I Learned a long time ago to Separate My Want's from My Needs!
bernadeli makes a modern magazine fed semi auto 9mm shotgun. owned it. shot it. got tired of it. sold it. made 100 bucks....all within 2 years. hot potato!
I remember those back in the '80s. G&A wrote it up.