The California approved designation ...
The California Bureau of Firearms maintains a list of handguns certified for sale within the state. This impacts only the sale of new or used firearms from licensed dealers, not the sale of used firearms in private party transfers.
The certification process involves a number of drop tests (generally onto concrete from various heights), and any handgun which discharges itself when dropped is considered to have failed the test. This is why the handgun roster is also known as the "drop-test list". Each 'listing' is valid for a year, and there is no uniform "drop-off date" for handguns. This results in some guns falling off the list in one month, others falling off in another.
As of January 1st 2007, no new handgun may be submitted for drop-testing (and thus cannot be added to the list) unless it is equipped with both a magazine disconnect safety and a loaded chamber indicator. Existing handguns which are not thus equipped may be renewed, but these requirements apply going forward.
The list of current handguns is viewable online at
http://certguns.doj.ca.gov/.
