Super Commander

Is the colt 38 super lite commander legal in california?

Going to have to disagree with Mr. Puddle. Handguns in California are only legal to buy from a licensed dealer (like a gun store) if they are on the “Roster of Handguns Certified for Sale”. You may still purchase them from a private party if they are already in California. This is governed by California Penal Code 12125 (linked below).

As for the Colt brand, the Colt 38 Super (or any .38 Special Colt) is not legal for sale in California. There are only 10 models of Colt handguns (and 1 revolver) that are legal. The Colt 38 Super is not among them, because all the California legal Colts are in .45ACP.

If you’ve owned the Colt 38 Super before 2001, you can still keep it. But you may not purchase it from a gun store. You may purchase it from another individual (a private party transfer).

That about sums it up. Click the link below for a list of California approved handguns. Please be aware that new guns may be added to the list, and guns currently on the list may drop off.

EDIT- Thanks for clarifying that Mr. Puddle. I think I’ll still stick with my original answer because:
1) I suspect that the Asker is already residing in California. This is because the majority of “is this legal in California” questions on Y!A are asked by Californians who are wondering about Californian law. I could be wrong about this.
2) You may bring an off-list handgun with you into California if you were not already a resident. The CA DoJ website says you may bring your “otherwise California-legal firearms” with you. I agree that this normally means that if you may posses it, which you can posses a Colt 38 Super, but it still is a bit ambiguous. Regardless of this interpretation, CA PC 12001(n) holds that a person moving into California who owns handguns is a “personal handgun importer”. CA PC 12072(f)(2) says that PHIs need to either sell their handgun or register it with the DoJ for $19. That’s the complete story, but I think it’s in far more detail than the Asker really needed.
As for the trick of getting a friend to purchase it outside of California, coming to California, and then transferring it to you through a private party transfer, that MAY be okay under CA PC 12132(a). Its super shady, but the law MIGHT protect you. Probably would just depend on the ability of your lawyer.
I believe police agents are also exempt from the Roster, and may purchase or import handguns that are off the Roster. In that case, they could also transfer if to you through a private party transfer (CA PC 12125(b)(4)). Good luck finding an officer willing to do that.
3) I also did agree that the Colt 38 Super was legal to own, either if purchased in California before 2001, or if you purchased it through a private party transfer. I have no conflict with Mr. Puddle there. It’s just that again, I believe the Asker is already a Californian resident.

I think Mr. Puddle got disapproval for his answer because it was (truly) a very dangerous oversimplification of California firearm law. The disapproval could also be because of his distinction between “owning” and “buying”.

Super Commander