Taurus is a manufacturing conglomerate based in São Leopoldo, in the Brazilian state of Rio Grande do Sul. Founded as a tool and die manufacturer, the company now consists of divisions focusing on firearms, metals manufacturing, plastics, body armor, helmets, and civil construction. And counted as local manufactured firearms. The current product line includes steel-frame pistols, polymer-frame pistols, revolvers, and law enforcement weapons (submachine guns and rifles), the latter intended for the domestic Brazilian market. The company manufactures and sells its firearms for generally less than other manufacturers due to low labor costs, as well as having the facilities available to build virtually every part themselves. Taurus is a diversified, international company and one of the largest small arms manufacturers in the world.
Taurus produced its first revolver, the Model 38101SO, in 1941. Beginning in 1968, it exported revolvers to the U.S. market through a series of importers. In 1971, the Bangor Punta Corporation, then the parent company of Smith & Wesson, purchased 54 percent of Forjas Taurus, allowing the two firearms manufacturers to easily share information regarding design and manufacturing. In 1977, Taurus was purchased from Bangor Punta by its current owners, and its ties to Smith & Wesson were severed. In 1980, after Italian arms manufacturer Beretta had completed its contracts to produce firearms for Brazil’s military, Taurus purchased Beretta’s São Paulo manufacturing plant along with the tooling, technical drawings, and work force necessary to produce several different pistol designs.In order to more effectively tap the U.S. market, the company created a subsidiary, Taurus International Manufacturing Incorporated, also known as Taurus USA, in 1984. Taurus Holdings became the first company to offer its customers an unqualified LIFETIME REPAIR POLICY. This changed the course of the company in the U.S. market. Only recently has this policy been matched. It has never been exceeded. This innovative policy made everyone sit up and take notice of Taurus brand firearms.
Taurus was originally known for manufacturing revolvers similar in design to those offered by Smith & Wesson. The company moved away from this realm by offering larger framed models such as the Raging Bull (.454 Casull) and Raging Hornet (.22 Hornet) revolvers as well as the Judge 5-shot revolvers (.410 bore and .45 Colt). In 1974 Beretta had won a contract to produce small arms for the Brazilian Army. The contract required Beretta to build a Brazilian factory and use Brazilian labor. When the contract ran out in 1980, Beretta sold the plant to Forjas Taurus. By that time, Forjas Taurus had new Brazilian controlling owners that had purchased Forjas Taurus from Bangor Punta in 1977. Forjas Taurus now owned everything that once belonged to Beretta, including drawings, tooling, machinery, and employed a very experienced work force. Forjas Taurus was in the pistol business, and immediately sought to improve on the Beretta design. One of Taurus’ most successful semiautomatic handguns has been its PT92, a model similar to Beretta’s model 92 line, but with the addition of an ambidextrous frame safety, rather than the Beretta’s slide-mounted safety. The most recent addition to the Taurus pistol lineup is a copy of the Colt 1911 .45 ACP pistol, the PT1911. This slightly redesigned and updated design offers many features.
Semi-automatic pistols: Taurus Millennium series (Models 111, 140, 145, and 745), Taurus PT22 .22 Long Rifle, Taurus PT25 .25 ACP, PT 24/7
Taurus TCP 732 .32 ACP, Taurus TCP 738 .380 ACP, PT92 (Models 92 and 100),PT1911, Taurus Model 809 / Taurus Model 840 / Taurus Model 845
Slim Series, 709 (9mm) and 740 (.40 S&W), PT-2045, Taurus PT911 9mm (15 or 10 round), Taurus PT 909, PT945, Taurus PT 908 (9mm) (8 round), Taurus PT 51 6.35mm, Taurus PT 915, Taurus PT 938,Taurus PT 838, Taurus PT 838c, Taurus Curve,Taurus Spectrum
Revolvers: Taurus Model 327 6 shot .327 Federal Magnum, Taurus Model 431 .44 Special, Taurus Model 405 .40 S&W, Taurus Model 445 .44 Special, Taurus Model 605 .357 Magnum, Taurus Model 606 .357 Magnum,Taurus CIA (Models 650 and 850) – Carry It Anywhere. A concealed hammer revolver based on the Smith & Wesson Centennial, Taurus Protector (Models 651 and 851) – Shrouded hammer based on the Smith & Wesson Bodyguard, Taurus Model 85 (includes Model 856) .38 Special,Taurus Model 731 .32 H&R Magnum, Taurus Model 905 9mm Parabellum, Taurus Model 94 .22 Long Rifle.Taurus Model 941 .22 WMR, Taurus Model 617 .357 Magnum 7 shot revolver, Taurus Model 817 .38 Special 7 shot revolver, Taurus Model 82 .38 Special, Taurus Model 65 / Taurus Model 66 .357 Magnum, Taurus Model 689 .357 Magnum, Taurus revolver 689 6-cylinder, 6″ barrel, Large frame, Taurus Model 608 8-shot .357, Taurus Model 689 6-shot .357 Magnum, Taurus Model 44 6-shot .44 Magnum
Submachine guns: Taurus SRT submachine gun
Rifles: Taurus ART556 rifle, Taurus CT G2 carbine
