The Wire · CalGunHub

Dealer Restrictions on Convertible Pistols Reshape California Handgun Roster

Published October 31, 2026 · Updated October 31, 2026

AB 1127 took effect July 1, halting dealer sales of machinegun-convertible pistols; a redesigned Glock 43X CA reached the state roster Sept. 29.

Written by the CalGunHub desk from public reporting

Who this affects: For California dealers and their customers, the immediate change is on the retail shelf: covered convertible pistols can no longer be sold by licensed dealers, while existing owners, pre-2026 dealer inventory and private-party transfers through a dealer are unaffected under the statute's text, according to The Reload. A manufacturer redesign and resubmission path under Penal Code Section 32103 runs through Jan. 1, 2027, and the appearance of the Glock 43X CA on the roster signals manufacturers are pursuing that route. Federal litigation remains pending, so requirements could change. This is general information, not legal advice.

California's AB 1127, signed in October 2025 as Chapter 572 of the Statutes of 2025, took effect July 1, 2026, adding Penal Code Section 27595. Under the statute, licensed dealers may no longer sell, exchange or deliver semiautomatic pistols whose cruciform trigger bar allows ready conversion with a so-called pistol converter, a category covering Glock and Glock-pattern models, according to USA Today and USA Carry.

For the retail industry, the statute builds in several carve-outs. Current owners face no new possession restrictions under the statute, dealer stock delivered prior to Jan. 1, 2026 is exempt, and transfers between private parties completed through a dealer remain allowed, according to The Reload and industry trackers. Penalties on dealers escalate by offense: a fine of up to $1,000 for a first violation, up to $5,000 plus possible license suspension or revocation for a second, and a misdemeanor with mandatory revocation for a third.

The roster picture has shifted alongside the law. According to USA Today, more than 100 gun models have been dropped from the state's Handguns Certified for Sale list since the beginning of 2026, while over 900 handguns remain listed. On Sept. 29, 2026 the state Department of Justice roster added a Glock 43X CA, a 9mm with a 3.41-inch barrel and the first new Glock added to the roster since the restrictions began, according to the New York Post and GunPartPicker, which said the entry lacks the machinegun-convertible flag carried by other Glock listings. GunPartPicker reported retailers taking pre-orders at $599.99 without a confirmed shipping date.

The law also drew a federal challenge. The U.S. Department of Justice sued California on July 1, naming both AB 1127 and the handgun roster, and Judge Monica Ramirez Almadani denied the government's request for a temporary restraining order on July 9 without reaching the Second Amendment question, according to The Reload. In a separate case, Renna v. Bonta, Judge Dana M. Sabraw on Aug. 24 denied as moot a preliminary injunction motion by SAF, NRA, FPC and other plaintiffs, a procedural outcome rather than a ruling on the constitutional question, according to USA Carry.

"California cannot ban the most popular type of handgun in America," Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche said in the Justice Department's announcement.

Informational only, not legal advice. Facts are attributed to the sources listed above.