Astra Model 2000 Cub .22 Short Semi-Automatic Pistol – 1954 First-Year Production
This 1954 Astra Model 2000 Cub is an early, Spanish-made pocket pistol chambered in the less-common .22 Short. Produced in the first year of Cub manufacture—before Colt Junior import contracts—this micro-sized, forged-steel handgun pairs collectible provenance with practical concealability.
Condition
Overall Condition: Fair condition, showing extensive signs of prior use and handling.
Bore Condition: Fair – Generally clean, some residue or smudges, slight corrosion.
Rifling: Fair Rifling – Worn rifling, slight loss of definition.
Specific Condition Notes: The exterior surfaces display moderate scratching, scuffing, pitting, and blemishing.
What’s Included
- 1× factory 6-round steel magazine with knurled follower button
- Idaho Leather Co. Model 25A black leather pocket holster
First-year production status is confirmed by the boxed “Z” Eibar proof mark, locking in 1954 manufacture without relying on secondary records. Early Cubs like this example preceded the Colt-branded Juniors and later FIE imports, making them scarcer on the U.S. market.
Chambering in .22 Short further distinguishes this pistol. Later Cub variants shifted almost entirely to .25 ACP, so period-correct .22 Short magazines and parts remain a talking point for collectors.
The fixed-barrel, blowback design delivers notable accuracy for a firearm smaller than many modern micro-.380s. Its forged carbon-steel slide and frame retain original blued finish, now worn from honest carry.
An external ring-style hammer allows manual thumb-cocking while doubling as a natural lanyard loop—an uncommon feature on pistols of this size. Single-action-only operation, a push-button magazine release, and dual safeties (thumb and magazine-disconnect) round out a straightforward control layout.
Leather-covered grips add period charm and remain secured by the original grip screws, complementing the pistol’s pocket-friendly profile.