California DOJ Restricts Derya DY9Z Despite Handgun Roster Approval

California's handgun roster is facing renewed scrutiny after the California Department of Justice (DOJ) reportedly restricted a newly approved Derya handgun designed to comply with Assembly Bill 1127. The Derya DY9Z reportedly passed California's required safety testing and received roster approval on October 30, 2026. However, the DOJ assigned the firearm a restricted designation, preventing its sale to the general public.

AB 1127 targets certain semiautomatic pistols considered readily convertible into machine guns, including firearms with cruciform-style trigger bars. Following the law's implementation, California began identifying affected firearms with a plus (+) designation on its handgun roster. According to the report, firearms carrying this designation remain listed but are restricted from general consumer sales. The recently approved Glock 43XCA avoided this classification, suggesting manufacturers could develop compliant versions of existing firearms.

Derya developed a revised DY9Z featuring a specially designed TVM slide intended to prevent prohibited conversions. Although the firearm reportedly passed California's testing requirements, the DOJ determined that its slide could potentially be replaced with an aftermarket version lacking the same compliance features. As a result, the firearm received the restricted classification despite its approved factory configuration. The decision raises questions about whether California is applying additional requirements beyond those manufacturers anticipated under AB 1127.

Rather than contesting the classification, Derya reportedly plans to introduce another revised DY9Z TVM designed to prevent installation of incompatible aftermarket slides. The company also intends to submit a similarly modified DY9 TVM. Both models would require approval before becoming available to California consumers.

The controversy could also become relevant to United States v. California, the ongoing federal lawsuit challenging AB 1127 and California's handgun roster. The reported classification highlights the difficulties manufacturers may face when attempting to satisfy California's firearm regulations, particularly when compliance involves redesigning existing products.

For California gun owners, the Derya situation underscores the uncertainty surrounding which handguns will remain available as AB 1127 continues to affect the state's firearm market.