Astra Cub
by Kevin Callahan
Title
Astra Cub
Artist
Kevin Callahan
Medium
Painting - Watercolor
Description
The Astra Cub is a pocket pistol manufactured in Spain. It was made for Colt from 1954 to 1968. After the 1968 Gun Control Act was enacted the guns could no longer be imported into the USA. However they are still manufactured in Europe. After 1968 Colt manufactured their version under the name of Colt Junior. The pistols were made in .22 short and .25 calibers.
Between 1957 and 1968 about 67,000 pistols were manufactured for Colt and trade-named 'Colt Junior.' They are identical to the Cub, but may have checkered wood grips instead of standard plastic. Engraved and silver-plated versions of the Model 2000 were also available.
The Cub pictured here was not apparently made for Colt as it has only Spanish marks on the barrel. It is an exceptionally well-made pistol and has amazing accuracy for such a small gun. Two of my companions and I once shot at targets a full 30 feet away and each kept all of our seven shots on the paper for all three targets. Several were bulls eye hits. The .22 short is underpowered but a whole lot of fun to shoot. This one is dressed up, the metal a nice deep blue and the grips beautiful mother of pearl. I sometimes carry it in a wallet holster in my suit coat for special occasions.
Of course one easily recognizes this type of pocket pistol as they became famous in the Hollywood movies of the late 40s through the 50s often featured in the "noir" movies of the time. You could depend on at some point the beautiful femme fatale producing one from her handbag or pocket of her dressing gown. Often to shoot an unsuspecting dupe before she herself was dealt justice. Casino owners, mob lawyers, and other such stock characters usually kept them in the pocket of their tuxedos palming them at a crucial moment to hold their adversary at bay or to deliver a sucker shot. "Why Rocko? Why? We wuz friends."
This particular pistol has its own slightly sordid past. I purchased it at a local shop in Pennsylvania. The shop owner told me the man who sold it simply wanted to be rid of it. It seems he was a well-respected local judge and carried the pistol on his person for many years. As the story goes the judge shot himself through the hand while handling the gun. He wanted no more to do with it and so it passed on to me through the gun shop.
Uploaded
December 30th, 2013
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