Laser emission is obtained from forward biased evaporated metal barriers on degeneratep‐PbTe andp‐Pb0.8Sn0.2Te atT=4.2°K. Metals with small work functions such as In, Pb, and Zn produce a degenerate invertedn‐type surface region onp‐type samples without chemical doping. Low‐threshold laser emission has been obtained from these barriers onp‐PbTe at &lgr; = 6.4&mgr; and from Pb barriers onp‐Pb0.8Sn0.2Te at &lgr; = 15&mgr;.