The Curve is curved. Yes, the whole gun. It matches the curve of your hand.
We stopped by Taurus at SHOT Show to get an update on the Curve and see if they had some other new products. We were not disappointed. For those of you who haven’t caught wind of the Curve, keep reading. We’ll include much more about it at the end.
The Curve
Check out our review of The Curve for more detailed information. Taurus did say that they will be shipping next month and are currently looking at the engineering to make a left-handed version in the near future. That will be an added bonus for those who want to shoot two guns at the same time, but still enjoy the unique ergonomic fit The Curve offers. Could akimbo get any more comfortable?
The MSRP is just under $400.
With the hammer spur on, the gun is easier to cock. But without it, it is easier to carry. Your choice.
The 85 Convertible
No, we are not talking about an 85 Chevy Cavalier. We are talking about the 85 Taurus revolvers. Now the 85 has been around a long time, but Taurus has come up with a neat little update. The Convertible allows you take the spur off the hammer with a simple twist. This turns it into a double action only for easier concealed carry. No more worrying about snagging the hammer when drawing from concealment.
The idea is so insanely simple. Why hasn’t it been integrated into more compact revolvers? And it is super quick and easy to do. Just don’t lose the spur. Maybe Taurus will start offering replacement hammers for those of us who lose them.
The Wings
Taurus has also come up with a cool idea for some of their sub compact pistols. The slides on these diminutive pistols are usually pretty stiff. Some shooters have a rather hard time racking the slide on there. Taurus has a solution with these small wings that fold out to make it easier to grip. Check out the photos for a better idea. These are in prototype right now, but should go into production on the TCP soon.
The Wings also look like horns. As in the horns on a bull. A Taurus bull. Take the bull by the horns.
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Don’t drop the slide on this dude with the wings extended, unless you know your hand is clear. The wings are steel, and would eat you up.
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The 85 Convertible.
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Here you can see the subtle curve of The Curve.
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The Curve
The Taurus Curve is unlike any firearm in the market. It is made to fit your body, not just your hand.
Taurus USA
https://www.taurususa.com/
When you think about it, we wear our guns a lot more than we shoot them, yet they are designed primarily for shooting. The new Taurus Curve fixes that. The grip on the gun is curved, so that when you wear it on your hip or carry it in your pocket, the gun hugs the contour of your body. The Curve is a 6+1 .380 ACP semi-automatic pistol with a consistent trigger pull for each shot. The MSRP for the introductory model is $392, and it will come with an integral LaserLyte light and laser combo built in. The Curve also comes with a Kydex pull-off trigger guard holster, and screwed onto the side of the gun is a steel clip for inside the waistband or inside a purse pocket carry. Overall the gun is 5.2″ long, and it ways 10.2 ounces empty.
I was one of about a dozen industry writers who were invited to shoot the Taurus Curve at the Miami Taurus plant a couple weeks before the gun’s launch. The Curve will be built in Miami and will carry a Made in U.S.A. moniker on its side. Right now there are only a couple hundred production sample guns built, and the gun should be ready for market and for sale at your local dealer by late Spring of 2015. Orders have already come in from all of the major gun distributors and the Curve should be one of the hot guns for next year. We will have a complete review before the gun comes to market.
First impression? After about 100 rounds shot at both stationary and moving targets, the Curve is going to be reliable and consistent. We shot at 7 yards using a new video screen target technology, and I felt that Curve was quick shooting and accurate enough to be a serious self defense weapon. The trigger pull is somewhat heavy, but most people want a heavier pull in a pocket, purse or belt gun that doesn’t have an external safety lever.
The sights on the Curve are a bit odd. It doesn’t actually have a traditional sight. Instead, there are lines painted on the back of the gun that form crosshairs like in a scope reticle. The center of the crosshairs is the rear of the barrel, the bore axis. So when you line up the crosshairs, you are basically lining up your bore with the target. I personally couldn’t hit much with the bore axis method, but the laser worked great! A human sized target at bedroom distances doesn’t require anything but a gun that you point, shoot and hit with. The Curve can hit at that distance without the laser, but you’ll find it a bit odd, if you are already an avid shooter and you are used to regular sights.
Which brings me to what I think is the most important thing that I read out of my initial impression of the Taurus Curve. If you read this GunsAmerica Digest, you are probably already a fan of firearms, and perhaps something of an expert in your circle of friends and family. We all get asked a lot the question of what gun to buy, as a basic self defense weapon. My answer for women and even many men is a small .380 or a .38 Special revolver. When I see they want a semi-auto, I will usually sway them towards a Kel-Tec, Ruger LCP or S&W Bodyguard. But then you have to deal with the questions of should I get a laser, what should I carry it in, etc.
This is the rear of the gun in hand.
Now, based on the performance of the guns I shot, I will most likely tell them to try the Curve. It fits your hand a little odd, because of the curve in the frame of the gun, but I found it not unpleasant to shoot, and because it is an actual hammer gun, not striker fired, I think it will have a good track record of long term reliability. I will be eager to test the production guns when they come out, but I think the Curve is going to be a good gun. I am a long time fan of Taurus because they give you a lot of gun for the money, and now that they have cured their quality control and customer service issues, I don’t think I will have any problem with recommending the Curve as an out of the box “all you need” kind of carry gun as a first choice for a .380. It even comes with the Taurus key locking feature for those who are afraid to have a gun in the house.
For now the Curve is only going to come in this configuration, with a hard case and two magazines, as well as the trigger guard holster. Later next year Taurus plans to release an even less expensive version with no light/laser on it. There also will be a left hand model at some point.
As you can see, the frame of the gun on the Curve is substantial, and that made it a soft shooter, despite it’s weight of only 10.2 ounces.
So what do you think? Is this gun going to be a home run for Taurus? It does take some getting used to shooting the Curve because your thumb is looking for a place to sit due to the inward curve of the grip. But I shot it both one and two handed and could consistently break 12″ video plates at 7 yards, even fast firing. The Curve certainly is a new concept, and I’m sure that Taurus would love to her your comments below as much as would we.
I own & carry regularly 3 Taurus products, TCP,1911 & model 85 .38 sp. Recently purchased a Heritage 22/22mag(owned by Taurus now). All are extremely well made & function flawlessly. I’ve been very pleased & will remain loyal to Taurus. I have several other “better” handguns too. They’re not. Just more expensive. I’m thinking the new .380 revolver will be next. Keep it up Taurus.
No Left Hand???
I RESPECT TAURUS, AND I LIKE MOST OF THEIR PRODUCTS. I SOLD THE HECK OUT OF THEIR PT92’S IN THE 80’S AND 9O’S. IT WAS AN AFFORDABLE, COMPARABLE GUN TO THE BERETTA. BUT, THIS SEEMS VERY “GIMMICKY” TO THIS OLD FART! TO EACH HIS/HER OWN, I GUESS. I WILL WATCH TO SEE IF THIS IDEA GAINS STEAM.
Looks cool buy I think i’ll pass.
I will have to stick up for Taurus on customer care, I took a PT 738 in trade that was in real bad shape it would not even chamber a round, slide finish was bad. Sent it to them for repair, when it came back it not only looked like new it shot like new, my FFL dealer even thought they sent a new gun. I have taken it to the range several times it chambers and fires any thing I put thru it, it is now one of my carry guns, I will look at the curve when it comes out.
The first thing any miscreant will say on you producing this futuristic plastic piece is “Don’t taze me, bro!” The human hand has certain foibles, one of which is that a traditional full size revolver or auto is far more comfortable and easier to shoot than any shrink wrapped concealment specialist device. At least this one looks as though the trigger pull is normal sized. It will take time to get used to, and practice is always essential. The sighting system is weird. Good luck with it as a trial customer, because Taurus have a horrible reputation for customer care.
Looks great to me, doesn’t give you the feeling of a conventional weapon and I think if people happen to see it they won’t freak out.I prefer 9mm and if they make it I’ll look into buying one
I’m with those guys above that like to see new design.
I love this Idea.
I’m going to hold off for a bit, because I can see by responses they will probably make it without lights in a higher caliber.
And by then they will have fine tuned the ergonomics of it as well.
I will own one day, hopefully in 9mm., .357 mag., .40, or one that shoots shot shells.
Very cool, very smart.
I was hoping it would have a curved slide and barrel and would fire curved rounds allowing it to shoot around corners where bad guys hide after taking pot shots at you.
That will be found on the left-hand version only. So, for left-handers to shoot it straight they will need the right-hand version…I think, or maybe they will need to shoot it with their right hand.
I will never buy another Taurus anything. I bought a PT-22 years ago, and it had a bad magazine. I sent it back to Taurus for replacement, and it’s a good thing I had it signed for, as they tried to tell me it never got there, and even after I proved it, acted like I was some sort of thief, want something for free. I even asked to speak to a Supervisor, and got the same attitude from him. Their so-called Customer Service is a farce. May God help you if you have a problem with one of their products, because they won’t.
My wife and I both shoot left-handed, and she’s thinking about getting a handgun of her own. She was a Baltimore police officer back in the dawn of time and won several shooting competitions with her department issue (I believe S&W) .38 revolver, Naturally, that’s what she’s inclined to get now. A left-handed curve might change her mind. I wouldn’t mind one myself, but we’re on Social Security so our budget is limited. Not complaining; my Marlin 795 might only shoot .22LR, but with hypervelocity rounds and a red-dot it has all the power, range, and accuracy I need for home defense — and due to a quirk in Florida law I can carry it wherever I like without a CCW as long as I carry fishing tackle, too, because it’s legal to carry a loaded weapon if you’re going (or coming back from) hunting or fishing, and there isn’t a lot of hunting where we live, but we have great fishing all over the place.
I am sure this would be better with a extended triple stack .50 BMG magazine with Zylon/Krytonie coated bullets. But it is a .380 to keep the grip graspable for smaller hands. 9MM length makes a difference anyone can feel, but not all can manage. .380 Bullet technology has been advancing in lockstep with 9MM, both projectiles have the same diameter the 380 a little shorter and typically 20% less weight traveling 100 FPS slower, still quite lethal. If a DA think a Lazer on a 380 makes the Curve a hunting weapon, he is on very shaky ground. I would rather face that DA in court than a potential killer in my home. Hooray for Taurus!
I will buy one right after I buy a 1981Yugo. Like that will ever happen! It is an ugly piece of plastic.
like that will ever happen ha ha you so funny!
I will DEFINITELY be looking at buying one of these as soon as a LEFT-Handed model comes out! Great idea, love the built-ins, love the belt clip, love the look! Nice work, Taurus!
The Curve, total fail. Can you say not ambidextrous? Any gun you might need to use for self defense needs to be ambidextrous, as arm/shoulder hits are the most likely one you will get. Sorry, this thing is so silly it goes beyond comprehension.
I have to agree with you Pete. In rookie school (more years ago than care to remember) we had to learn to shoot with our weak hand. Our lives could depend on it. My prediction is that the gun will crash on dead man’s curve. As for me, I’ll stick with standard auto loaders & wheel guns.
Of course we wear our guns more than we shhot them. In fact everyone does, including law enforcement, military, and those of us who spend time in places where there are no second responders (we are our own first responders) or the response time of second responders make them a non-factor.
But we carry guns because we first and foremost need to have functional deadly force if and when we need it, and comfort is secondary and useless if your gun is too puny to do its job or inappropriate when its capacity turns it into a tactical disadvantage and liability.
All marketing and hype aside, a gun with the utmost reliability in a proven lethal caliber (at least a 9mm with desidned super-expanding bullets) with sufficient capacity to deal with multiple adversaries is what everyone should consider their life is worth depending on and defending Jonas well as the lives of those who are important to you.
Looks neat. I’d try one. Great job to Taurus for thinking outside of the box. I really like that it is essentially a self contained package for lightweight concealment (already has a light, laser, belt clip, trigger guard).
Having said all that, part of a sentence in the article says:
“…and because it is an actual hammer gun, not striker fired, I think it will have a good track record of long term reliability.”
This sentence is bad enough on its face as a run-on sentence, but what about the content? Striker fired pistols have inherently poor reliability? That’s what the sentence implies. Where is this coming from? All the striker fired pistols I’ve had have excellent reliability, and this is what I’ve heard and read as well.
I am a a Taurus fan. I own a PT111 G2 and love the feel and the accuracy of the gun. As a former Army officer I carried and qualified with a .45 1911 during my tours so I was skeptical of a smaller caliber (9mm) compact handgun. So far I think this manufacturer is a solid “A”. The only issue I’ve had with it is the disasemble for cleaning. It’s not as easy as they make out in the manual. It takes a fair amount of finessing to get the slide in the right place to be able to release from the frame. Other than that it’s a winner. I used it to qualify for my CCP and had a perfect score. So far in practice no misfires and no jams. I’m am curious however about the fact that some gunsmiths won’t work on them.
My wife has the curves I gots the angles to quote an old “Wolfman Jack” song!
Hey Taurus, KEEP THE ANGLES!
I’ll wait for the “laser-less” model thank you…since most Prosecutors and D.A.’s have taken the stance that if you use a light and or a laser you are no longer in a defensive posture..but have “gone hunting” …become an aggressor. And that, in itself, makes you a felon. Small pocket pistols are deemed self-defense items and that’s what concealed carry is all about…self-defense. A light, laser, or even light-reflective night sights make you a good target at night. How long does it take to fumble around and get the laser turned on after you draw your weapon? BOOM!!!…you’re dead.
Well, at least Taurus and Ruger are showing us some new models or features in their existing handguns. Where are the new models from Smith & Wesson? A 6 lbs, $1700, .460 caliber revolver, that´s the only new thing coming from S&W this year. Don´t get me wrong, I have several S&W handguns, but it seems the company needs new leadership and young blood.
Is there a version for left-handed shooters?
Did you not read the article at all?
Great idea, like the curve, like the whole concept; but would have opted for a 9 mm.
Neat concept – should have been a 9mm instead of .380 Auto…
Bottom of clip looks odd. Might hang up in pulling it out of pocket. Marketing wise, it might be good to provide retailers with a “dummy ” gun so prospective buyers could feel what the pistol feels like in the hand. My area has several small gun shops that can’t stock a large inventory and this might aid in selling the Curve.
By the looks of the two screws in the back; the clip could come off maybe?
I’ll own one as soon as my local “Shoot Straight” can get them in.
Wow! A gun with the ergonomics of an Audi.
Its about time that someone took a look at comfort in a personal weapon.
Good for Taurus!