Handguns Certified for Sale

As of January 1, 2001, no handgun may be manufactured within California, imported into California for sale, lent, given, kept for sale, or offered/exposed for sale unless that handgun model has passed firing, safety, and drop tests and is certified for sale in California by the Department of Justice. Private party transfers, curio/relic handguns, certain single-action revolvers, and pawn/consignment returns are exempt from this requirement.

Additional information on the Roster of Certified Handguns can be found at California Code of Regulations, title 11, section 4070.

IMPORTANT INFORMATION:
  • All handguns listed are approved with or without night sights.
  • Aftermarket changes or modifications made to certain single shot pistols (i.e. changing upper receivers, connecting gas tubes) may be considered manufacturing these pistols into assault weapons. See California Penal Code section 30515, subdivision (a)(1), for a list of assault weapon characteristics. The purchaser could be in violation of Penal Code section 30600, prohibiting the manufacture of assault weapons, and Penal Code section 30605(a), prohibiting the possession of unregistered assault weapons.
  • The conversion of a single shot pistol to a semi-automatic pistol may constitute the manufacturing of an unsafe handgun, in violation of California Penal Code section 32000 (a), a misdemeanor.
  • Alterations of a single shot pistol (i.e. changing upper receivers, connecting gas tubes) may also be considered manufacturing an unsafe handgun. See California Penal Code sections 31900-31910 for the definition of unsafe handguns and 32000(a) for more information on illegal acts involving unsafe handguns.
  • An asterisk (*) next to the model name below indicates that the handgun was added pursuant to the court's order in Boland v. Bonta. C.D. Cal. Case No. 8:22-cv-1421-CJC-ADS [Dkts. 60, 61]; 9th Circuit Case No. 23-55276 [Dkt. 7].
960 handguns found
 

View list of handgun models whose status has changed recently:

  • Recently Added Handgun Models
    Models added recently to the Roster of Handguns certified for sale.
  • Recently Removed Handgun Models
    Handgun models whose certification has expired or otherwise removed from the Roster. These models may no longer be sold, offered for sale, or manufactured in California.