Astra Model 2000 Cub .22 Short Micro-Size Semi-Automatic Pistol – First-Year 1954 Production with Factory Simulated Pearl Grips
Produced in 1954, this Astra Model 2000 Cub is a first-year example of the Spanish micro-pistol that would later be marketed in the United States as the Colt Junior. Chambered in .22 Short and built on a polished blued carbon-steel frame and slide, it combines diminutive size with dependable single-action, straight-blowback operation. Matching slide and frame serial numbers, correct Eibar proof marks, and optional factory simulated mother-of-pearl grips add collector appeal to this already scarce early specimen.
Condition
Overall Condition: Good
Bore Condition: Good – clean, well-maintained, minor wear marks
Rifling Condition: Good – intact, well-defined lands and grooves
Specific Condition Notes: The original polished blued finish shows mild wear and a few small scuffs, appropriate for a pistol that has been carefully handled over the past seven decades.
What’s Included
- One Astra Model 2000 Cub pistol with factory simulated mother-of-pearl grip panels
- One steel single-stack 6-round magazine
This micro-size Astra weighs in at just a few ounces yet delivers six rounds of .22 Short from a 2.25 inch barrel, making it a noteworthy example of mid-century pocket-pistol engineering.
The external spur hammer and crisp single-action trigger give the shooter positive control, while a frame-mounted manual thumb safety provides straightforward operation. Rear slide serrations aid in manipulation despite the pistol’s compact profile.
Factory-applied polished bluing covers the carbon-steel frame, slide, and receiver, all bearing matching serial number 60077. Spanish Eibar nitro bomb proofs and the five-point star over “Z” date code verify 1954 manufacture.
Optional white pearlescent plastic grips, offered by Astra at the time, remain intact and free of cracks, giving the pistol its distinctive 1950s aesthetic. Their condition contributes to collectibility, as many early Cub examples now wear replacement panels.
Early production status, full matching numbers, and correct proofs make this Cub a rarer find for Astra enthusiasts or anyone interested in the lineage that led to the Colt Junior.