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                                  UNITED STATES
                       SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                             Washington, D.C. 20549

                                    Form 13F

                               Form 13F COVER PAGE

Report for the Calendar Year or Quarter Ended: September 30, 2008

Check here if Amendment [ ]; Amendment Number:
                                               --------

This Amendment (Check only one.): [ ] is a restatement.
                                  [ ] adds new holdings entries.

Institutional Investment Manager Filing this Report:

Name:    Piper Jaffray Companies
Address: 800 Nicollet Mall
         Suite 800
         Minneapolis, MN 55402-7020

Form 13F File Number: 28-10776

The institutional investment manager filing this report and the person by whom
it is signed hereby represent that the person signing the report is authorized
to submit it, that all information contained herein is true, correct and
complete, and that it is understood that all required items, statements,
schedules, lists, and tables, are considered integral parts of this form.

Person Signing this Report on Behalf of Reporting Manager:

Name:    Tim Carter
Title:   Treasurer
Phone:   612 303-6000

Signature, Place, and Date of Signing:


Tim Carter                                 Minneapolis, MN            11/3/08
-------------------------------------   ----------------------   ---------------
[Signature]                                 [City, State]             [Date]

Report Type (Check only one.):

[X]  13F HOLDINGS REPORT. (Check here if all holdings of this reporting manager
     are reported in this report.)

[ ]  13F NOTICE. (Check here if no holdings reported are in this report, and
     all holdings are reported by other reporting manager(s).)

[ ]  13F COMBINATION REPORT. (Check here if a portion of the holdings for this
     reporting manager are reported in this report and a portion are reported by
     other reporting manager(s).)



                                    FORM 13F
                                  SUMMARY PAGE

Report Summary:

Number of Other Included Managers:                  0

Form 13F Information Table Entry Total:           138

Form 13F Information Table Value Total:   $    83,895
                                           (thousands)

List of Other Included Managers:

Provide a numbered list of the name(s) and Form 13F file number(s) of all
institutional investment managers with respect to which this report is filed,
other than the manager filing this report. NONE





          COLUMN 1               COLUMN 2      COLUMN 3 COLUMN 4      COLUMN 5       COLUMN 6  COLUMN 7        COLUMN 8
---------------------------- ---------------- --------- -------- ------------------ ---------- -------- ---------------------
                                                          Value   SHRS OR  SH/ PUT/ INVESTMENT   OTHER
NAME OF ISSUER                TITLE OF CLASS    CUSIP   (X$1000)  PRN AMT  PRN CALL DISCRETION MANAGERS    SOLE   SHARED NONE
--------------               ---------------- --------- -------- --------- --- ---- ---------- -------- --------- ------ ----
                                                                                        
ADTRAN INC                   COM              00738A106       58     3,000 SH                               3,000      0    0
ALNYLAM PHARMACEUTICALS INC  COM              02043Q107        4       150 SH                                 150      0    0
AMERICAN PUBLIC EDUCATION IN COM              02913V103        2        48 SH                                  48      0    0
AMERICAN TOWER CORP          CL A             029912201       18       500 SH                                 500      0    0
AMERIGROUP CORP              NOTE  2.000% 5/1 03073TAB8    1,935 2,400,000 PRN                          2,400,000      0    0
AMERISOURCEBERGEN CORP       COM              03073E105    1,694    45,000 SH  CALL                        45,000      0    0
AMERISOURCEBERGEN CORP       COM              03073E105   10,839   287,900 SH  PUT                        287,900      0    0
AMERISOURCEBERGEN CORP       COM              03073E105    2,767    73,500 SH                              73,500      0    0
AMGEN INC                    COM              031162100      296     5,000 SH  CALL                         5,000      0    0
AMGEN INC                    COM              031162100    2,371    40,000 SH  PUT                         40,000      0    0
AMGEN INC                    COM              031162100       18       300 SH                                 300      0    0
AMR CORP                     COM              001765106      518    52,700 SH  PUT                         52,700      0    0
ANNALY CAP MGMT INC          COM              035710409       21     1,575 SH                               1,575      0    0
ARENA PHARMACEUTICALS INC    COM              040047102        2       400 SH                                 400      0    0
ARRIS GROUP INC              NOTE  2.000%11/1 04269QAC4    1,784 2,500,000 PRN                          2,500,000      0    0
ATLAS AIR WORLDWIDE HLDGS IN COM NEW          049164205       24       600 SH                                 600      0    0
ATLAS AMER INC               COM              049167109        9       250 SH                                 250      0    0
ATS MED INC                  NOTE  6.000%10/1 002083AB9    2,715 3,000,000 PRN                          3,000,000      0    0
AUXILIUM PHARMACEUTICALS INC COM              05334D107        6       200 SH                                 200      0    0
BARRETT BILL CORP            COM              06846N104        3       100 SH                                 100      0    0
BARRETT BILL CORP            NOTE  5.000% 3/1 06846NAA2      336   375,000 PRN                            375,000      0    0
BAXTER INTL INC              COM              071813109       88     1,335 SH                               1,335      0    0
BEACON ROOFING SUPPLY INC    COM              073685109       11       702 SH                                 702      0    0
BIOMARIN PHARMACEUTICAL INC  COM              09061G101       15       575 SH                                 575      0    0
BLACKROCK DEFINED OPPRTY CR  COM              09255Q105       10     1,000 SH                               1,000      0    0
CAMECO CORP                  COM              13321L108       65     2,900 SH                               2,900      0    0
CB RICHARD ELLIS GROUP INC   CL A             12497T101      872    65,200 SH                              65,200      0    0
CEPHEID                      COM              15670R107      981    70,900 SH                              70,900      0    0
CHESAPEAKE ENERGY CORP       NOTE  2.750%11/1 165167BW6    1,030 1,000,000 PRN                          1,000,000      0    0
CHILDRENS PL RETAIL STORES I COM              168905107       17       500 SH                                 500      0    0
CHINA GRENTECH CORP LTD      ADR              16938P107       10     5,800 SH                               5,800      0    0
CHURCH & DWIGHT INC          COM              171340102       12       200 SH                                 200      0    0
CIENA CORP                   NOTE  0.250% 5/0 171779AB7      595 1,000,000 PRN                          1,000,000      0    0
COGNIZANT TECHNOLOGY SOLUTIO CL A             192446102       42     1,825 SH                               1,825      0    0
COMPASS MINERALS INTL INC    COM              20451N101        9       175 SH                                 175      0    0
CONTINENTAL AIRLS INC        CL B             210795308    1,668   100,000 SH  PUT                        100,000      0    0
CUTERA INC                   COM              232109108       39     3,700 SH                               3,700      0    0
CYBERONICS INC               COM              23251P102      903    53,100 SH                              53,100      0    0
DIODES INC                   COM              254543101        4       200 SH                                 200      0    0
DIODES INC                   NOTE  2.250%10/0 254543AA9    3,420 4,500,000 PRN                          4,500,000      0    0
DOLAN MEDIA CO               COM              25659P402       25     2,469 SH                               2,469      0    0
DOLBY LABORATORIES INC       COM              25659T107      880    25,000 SH                              25,000      0    0
DOLLAR FINL CORP             NOTE  2.875% 6/3 256664AB9    2,044 3,000,000 PRN                          3,000,000      0    0
EARTHLINK INC                NOTE  3.250%11/1 270321AA0    1,794 1,675,000 PRN                          1,675,000      0    0





                                                                                        
ENDURANCE SPECIALTY HLDGS LT SHS              G30397106      468    15,140 SH                              15,140      0    0
ENERGY CONVERSION DEVICES IN NOTE  3.000% 6/1 292659AA7    1,171 1,400,000 PRN                          1,400,000      0    0
ENPRO INDS INC               DBCV  3.937%10/1 29355XAB3      129   100,000 PRN                            100,000      0    0
EQUITABLE RES INC            COM              294549100        7       200 SH                                 200      0    0
GAMESTOP CORP NEW            CL A             36467W109       15       425 SH                                 425      0    0
GAP INC DEL                  COM              364760108      116     6,500 SH                               6,500      0    0
GENENTECH INC                COM NEW          368710406      266     3,000 SH                               3,000      0    0
GREATBATCH INC               SDCV  2.250% 6/1 39153LAB2    2,830 3,305,000 PRN                          3,305,000      0    0
GUESS INC                    COM              401617105    6,200   178,200 SH  CALL                       178,200      0    0
GUESS INC                    COM              401617105    7,525   216,300 SH  PUT                        216,300      0    0
GUESS INC                    COM              401617105    2,018    58,000 SH                              58,000      0    0
HALLMARK FINL SVCS INC    EC COM NEW          40624Q203        1       107 SH                                 107      0    0
HANESBRANDS INC              COM              410345102       20       925 SH                                 925      0    0
HARMONIC INC                 COM              413160102       18     2,148 SH                               2,148      0    0
HERSHEY CO                   COM              427866108      138     3,500 SH  CALL                         3,500      0    0
HHGREGG INC                  COM              42833L108       34     3,500 SH                               3,500      0    0
HSBC HLDGS PLC               ADR A 1/40PF A   404280604      100     5,700 SH                               5,700      0    0
HUMAN GENOME SCIENCES INC    COM              444903108        1       100 SH                                 100      0    0
HUNTSMAN CORP                COM              447011107      265    21,000 SH  CALL                        21,000      0    0
HUNTSMAN CORP                COM              447011107    1,642   130,300 SH  PUT                        130,300      0    0
HUNTSMAN CORP                COM              447011107    1,310   104,000 SH                             104,000      0    0
ICONIX BRAND GROUP INC       NOTE  1.875% 6/3 451055AB3    1,493 2,000,000 PRN                          2,000,000      0    0
IHS INC                      CL A             451734107        7       150 SH                                 150      0    0
INTERACTIVE DATA CORP        COM              45840J107       23       900 SH                                 900      0    0
INVERNESS MED INNOVATIONS IN COM              46126P106      150     5,000 SH  PUT                          5,000      0    0
INVERNESS MED INNOVATIONS IN COM              46126P106      105     3,500 SH                               3,500      0    0
ISHARES TR                   RUSSELL 2000     464287655      680    10,000 SH  PUT                         10,000      0    0
ISHARES TR                   RUSSELL MCP GR   464287481       57     1,325 SH                               1,325      0    0
ITC HLDGS CORP               COM              465685105       13       250 SH                                 250      0    0
J CREW GROUP INC             COM              46612H402       86     3,000 SH  CALL                         3,000      0    0
J CREW GROUP INC             COM              46612H402      171     6,000 SH                               6,000      0    0
JA SOLAR HOLDINGS CO LTD     NOTE  4.500% 5/1 466090AA5      254   350,000 PRN                            350,000      0    0
LABORATORY CORP AMER HLDGS   COM NEW          50540R409        7       100 SH                                 100      0    0
LIMITED BRANDS INC           COM              532716107      130     7,500 SH                               7,500      0    0
LOGITECH INTL S A            SHS              H50430232        9       375 SH                                 375      0    0
LUMBER LIQUIDATORS INC       COM              55003Q103       63     5,000 SH                               5,000      0    0
MACROVISION SOLUTIONS CORP   COM              55611C108       77     5,000 SH                               5,000      0    0
MAGMA DESIGN AUTOMATION      COM              559181102      221    55,000 SH  PUT                         55,000      0    0
MAGMA DESIGN AUTOMATION      COM              559181102      137    34,200 SH                              34,200      0    0
MAGMA DESIGN AUTOMATION      NOTE  2.000% 5/1 559181AC6    2,223 2,869,000 PRN                          2,869,000      0    0
MARCHEX INC                  CL B             56624R108      217    21,096 SH                              21,096      0    0
MASIMO CORP                  COM              574795100       11       300 SH                                 300      0    0
MEDAREX INC                  COM              583916101        1       100 SH                                 100      0    0
MERRILL LYNCH & CO INC       COM              590188108       51     2,000 SH  PUT                          2,000      0    0
MICREL INC                   COM              594793101       45     5,000 SH                               5,000      0    0
MONOLITHIC PWR SYS INC       COM              609839105      635    36,569 SH                              36,569      0    0
NANOSPHERE INC               COM              63009F105        1        62 SH                                  62      0    0
NETEASE COM INC              SPONSORED ADR    64110W102        5       200 SH                                 200      0    0
NETFLIX INC                  COM              64110L106      198     6,400 SH                               6,400      0    0





                                                                                        
NORTHWESTERN CORP            COM NEW          668074305        8       300 SH                                 300      0    0
NPS PHARMACEUTICALS INC      COM              62936P103        2       300 SH                                 300      0    0
NYSE EURONEXT                COM              629491101    2,172    55,440 SH                              55,440      0    0
O2MICRO INTERNATIONAL LTD    SPONS ADR        67107W100        9     2,410 SH                               2,410      0    0
OCEANEERING INTL INC         COM              675232102        7       125 SH                                 125      0    0
ODYSSEY HEALTHCARE INC       COM              67611V101      711    70,000 SH  CALL                        70,000      0    0
OIL STS INTL INC             COM              678026105       10       275 SH                                 275      0    0
OSI PHARMACEUTICALS INC      NOTE  2.000%12/1 671040AF0      429   250,000 PRN                            250,000      0    0
OSIRIS THERAPEUTICS INC      COM              68827R108        2       100 SH                                 100      0    0
OXFORD INDS INC              COM              691497309      744    28,800 SH                              28,800      0    0
PENN VA CORP                 NOTE  4.500%11/1 707882AA4      161   140,000 PRN                            140,000      0    0
PETROCHINA CO LTD            SPONSORED  ADR   71646E100      616     6,000 SH                               6,000      0    0
PFIZER INC                   COM              717081103      129     7,000 SH  CALL                         7,000      0    0
PHARMERICA CORP              COM              71714F104    2,501   111,200 SH  CALL                       111,200      0    0
QUANEX BUILDING PRODUCTS COR COM              747619104        6       400 SH                                 400      0    0
QUESTCOR PHARMACEUTICALS INC COM              74835Y101        1       100 SH                                 100      0    0
QUIKSILVER INC               COM              74838C106       13     2,200 SH                               2,200      0    0
RANGE RES CORP               COM              75281A109      429    10,000 SH  CALL                        10,000      0    0
RANGE RES CORP               COM              75281A109      429    10,000 SH  PUT                         10,000      0    0
RED HAT INC                  COM              756577102      301    20,000 SH  PUT                         20,000      0    0
RED HAT INC                  COM              756577102      226    15,000 SH                              15,000      0    0
RED HAT INC                  DBCV  0.500% 1/1 756577AB8      320   330,000 PRN                            330,000      0    0
ROYAL BK SCOTLAND GROUP PLC  ADR PFD SER P    780097762       38     4,500 SH                               4,500      0    0
SALIX PHARMACEUTICALS INC    COM              795435106      129    20,050 SH                              20,050      0    0
SANGAMO BIOSCIENCES INC      COM              800677106        1       100 SH                                 100      0    0
SELECT SECTOR SPDR TR        SBI INT-FINL     81369Y605      219    11,000 SH  CALL                        11,000      0    0
SELECT SECTOR SPDR TR        SBI INT-FINL     81369Y605      796    40,000 SH  PUT                         40,000      0    0
SELECT SECTOR SPDR TR        SBI INT-FINL     81369Y605      298    15,000 SH                              15,000      0    0
SOLERA HOLDINGS INC          COM              83421A104        7       250 SH                                 250      0    0
STAAR SURGICAL CO            COM PAR $0.01    852312305      135    30,000 SH                              30,000      0    0
STARENT NETWORKS CORP        COM              85528P108       28     2,168 SH                               2,168      0    0
STERICYCLE INC               COM              858912108       24       400 SH                                 400      0    0
STRATASYS INC                COM              862685104        1        51 SH                                  51      0    0
SYBASE INC                   COM              871130100        9       300 SH                                 300      0    0
SYNTA PHARMACEUTICALS CORP   COM              87162T206        1       100 SH                                 100      0    0
TOWER GROUP INC              COM              891777104        2       100 SH                                 100      0    0
TRANS1 INC                   COM              89385X105        4       375 SH                                 375      0    0
ULTRA CLEAN HLDGS INC        COM              90385V107        7     1,481 SH                               1,481      0    0
VITAL IMAGES INC             COM              92846N104        3       200 SH                                 200      0    0
VOLCANO CORPORATION          COM              928645100        3       182 SH                                 182      0    0
WEST PHARMACEUTICAL SVSC INC COM              955306105       96     1,975 SH                               1,975      0    0
WISCONSIN ENERGY CORP        COM              976657106        4       100 SH                                 100      0    0
YAHOO INC                    COM              984332106      121     7,000 SH  CALL                         7,000      0    0
YINGLI GREEN ENERGY HLDG CO  ADR              98584B103       27     2,457 SH                               2,457      0    0
YINGLI GREEN ENERGY HLDG CO  NOTE 12/1        98584BAA1    1,418 1,750,000 PRN                          1,750,000      0    0