Here's a Federal laws regarding orange tips, which I quote below. There is another law, which I came across while doing some research last week that concerns modifying a toy gun that is in your possession - but it may be local. I'll dig it up a little later and post it as well.
* UNITED STATES CODE
+ TITLE 15 - COMMERCE AND TRADE
o CHAPTER 76 - IMITATION FIREARMS
________________________________________________________________
section 5001. Penalties for entering into commerce of imitation
firearms
* (a) Acts prohibited
It shall be unlawful for any person to manufacture, enter
into commerce, ship, transport, or receive any toy, look-alike, or
imitation firearm unless such firearm contains, or has affixed to
it, a marking approved by the Secretary of Commerce, as provided
in subsection (b) of this section.
* (b) Distinctive marking or device; exception; waiver;
adjustments and changes
+ (1) Except as provided in paragraph (2) or (3), each
toy, look-alike, or imitation firearm shall have as an integral
part, permanently affixed, a blaze orange plug inserted in the
barrel of such toy, look-alike, or imitation firearm. Such plug
shall be recessed no more than 6 millimeters from the muzzle end of
the barrel of such firearm.
+ (2) The Secretary of Commerce may provide for an
alternate marking or device for any toy, look-alike, or imitation
firearm not capable of being marked as provided in paragraph (1)
and may waive the requirement of any such marking or device for any
toy, look-alike, or imitation firearm that will only be used in the
theatrical, movie or television industry.
+ (3) The Secretary is authorized to make adjustments and
changes in the marking system provided for by this section, after
consulting with interested persons.
* (c) "Look-alike firearm" defined
For purposes of this section, the term "look-alike firearm"
means any imitation of any original firearm which was manufactured,
designed, and produced since 1898, including and limited to toy
guns, water guns, replica nonguns, and air-soft guns firing
nonmetallic projectiles. Such term does not include any look-alike,
nonfiring, collector replica of an antique firearm developed prior
to 1898, or traditional B-B, paint-ball, or pellet-firing air guns
that expel a projectile through the force of air pressure.
* (d) Study and report
The Director of the Bureau of Justice Statistics is authorized
and directed to conduct a study of the criminal misuse of toy,
look-alike and imitation firearms, including studying police
reports of such incidences and shall report on such incidences
relative to marked and unmarked firearms.
(c) (FOOTNOTE 1) Technical evaluation of marking systems
The Director of (FOOTNOTE 2) National Institute of Justice is
authorized and directed to conduct a technical evaluation of the
marking systems provided for in subsection (b) of this section to
determine their effectiveness in police combat situations. The
Director shall begin the study within 3 months after November 5,
1988, and such study shall be completed within 9 months after
November 5, 1988.
(FOOTNOTE 1) So in original. Probably should be "(e)".
(FOOTNOTE 2) So in original. Probably should be "of the".
(f) Effective date
This section shall become effective on the date 6 months
after November 5, 1988, and shall apply to toy, look-alike, and
imitation firearms manufactured or entered into commerce after
November 5, 1988.
(g) Preemption of State or local laws or ordinances;
exceptions
The provisions of this section shall supersede any provision
of State or local laws or ordinances which provide for markings or
identification inconsistent with provisions of this section
provided that no State shall -
+ (i) prohibit the sale or manufacture of any look-alike,
nonfiring, collector replica of an antique firearm developed prior
to 1898, or
+ (ii) prohibit the sale (other than prohibiting the sale
to minors) of traditional B-B, paint ball, or pellet-firing air
guns that expel a projectile through the force of air pressure.
-------------------------------------------------------------
15 CFR PART 1150
PART 1150 - MARKING OF TOY, LOOK-ALIKE AND IMITATION FIREARMS
Sec.
1150.1 Applicability.
1150.2 Prohibitions.
1150.3 Approved markings.
1150.4 Waiver.
1150.5 Preemption.
Authority: Section 4 of the Federal Energy Management
Improvement Act of 1988, 15 U.S.C. 5001.
Source: 54 FR 19358, May 5, 1989, and 57 FR 48454 Oct. 26,
1992.
Sec. 1150.1 Applicability.
This part applies to toy, look-alike and imitation firearms
('devices') having the general appearance, shape, and/or
configuration of a firearm and produced or manufactured and entered
into commerce on or after May 5, 1989, including devices modelled
on real firearms manufactured, designed, and produced since 1898.
This part does not apply to:
(a) Non-firing collector replica antique firearms, which look
authentic and may be a scale model but are not intended as toys
modelled on real firearms designed, manufactured and produced prior
to 1898.
(b) Traditional B-B, paint-ball, or pellet-firing air guns
that expel a projectile through the force of compressed air,
compressed gas or mechanical spring action, or any combination
thereof, as described in American Society for Testing and Materials
standard F 589-85, Standard Consumer Safety Specification for
Non-Powder Guns, June 28, 1985. This incorporation by reference was
approved by the Director of the Federal Register in accordance with
5 U.S.C. 552(a) and 1 CFR Part 51. Copies may be obtained from the
American Society for Testing and Materials, 1916 Race Street,
Philadelphia, Pa. 19103. Copies may be inspected at the office of
the Associate Director for Industry and Standards, National
Institute for Standards and Technology, Gaithersburg, Maryland, or
at the Office of the Federal Register, 1100 L Street, NW., Room
8401, Washington, DC.
(c) Decorative, ornamental, and miniature objects having the
appearance, shape and/or configuration of a firearm, including
those intended to be displayed on a desk or worn on a bracelet,
necklaces, key chains, and so on, provided that the objects measure
no more than thirty-eight (3
millimeters in height by seventy
(70) millimeters in length, the length measurement excluding any
gun stock length measurement.
Sec. 1150.2 Prohibitions.
No person shall manufacture, enter into commerce, ship,
transport, or receive any toy, look-alike, or imitation firearm
('device') covered by this Part as set forth in Sec. 1150.1 of this
part unless such device contains, or has affixed to it, one of the
markings set forth in Sec. 1150.3 of this part, or unless this
prohibition has been waived by Sec. 1150.4 of this part.
Sec. 1150.3 Approved markings.
The following markings are approved by the Secretary of
Commerce:
(a) A blaze orange (Federal Standard 595a, February, 1987,
color number 12199, issued by the General Services Administration)
or orange color brighter than that specified by the federal
standard color number, solid plug permanently affixed to the muzzle
end of the barrel as an integral part of the entire device and
recessed no more than 6 millimeters from the muzzle end of the
barrel. This incorporation by reference was approved by the
Director of the Federal Register in accordance with 5 U.S.C. 552(a)
and 1 CFR Part 51. Copies of Federal Standard 595a may be obtained
from the Office of Engineering and Technical Management, Chemical
Technology Division, Paints Branch, General Services
Administration, Washington DC 20406. Copies may be inspected at the
office of the Associate Director for Industry and Standards,
National Institute for Standards and Technology, Gaithersburg,
Maryland, or at the Office of the Federal Register. 1100 L Street,
NW., Room 8401, Washington DC.
(b) For any water gun, air-soft gun, light-emitting gun or
other ejecting toy, look-alike or imitation firearm having an
opening to discharge such things as water, non-metallic
projectiles, and light, a blaze orange (Federal Standard 595a,
February, 1987, color number 12199, issued by the General Services
Administration) or orange color brighter than that specified by the
Federal Standard color number, marking permanently affixed to the
exterior surface of the barrel, covering the circumference of the
barrel from the muzzle end for a depth of at least 6 millimeters.
This incorporation by reference was approved by the Director of the
Federal Register in accordance with 5 U.S C. 552(a) and 1 CFR Part
51. Copies of Federal Standard 595a may be obtained from the Office
of Engineering and Technical Management, Chemical Technology
Division, Paints Branch, General Services Administration,
Washington, DC 20406. Copies may be inspected at the office of the
Associate Director for Industry and Standards, National Institute
for Standards and Technology, Gaithersburg, Maryland, or at the
Office of the Federal Register, 1100 L Street, NW., Room 8401,
Washington, DC.
(c) Construction of the device entirely of transparent or
translucent materials which permits unmistakable observation of the
device's complete contents.
(d) Coloration of the entire exterior surface of the device
in white, bright red, bright orange, bright yellow, bright green,
bright blue, bright pink, or bright purple, either singly or as the
predominant color in combination with other colors in any pattern.
Sec. 1150.4 Waiver.
The prohibitions set forth in Sec. 1150.2 of this part are
waived for any toy, look-alike or imitation firearm that will be
used only in the theatrical, movie or television industries. A
request for such a waiver should be made, in writing, to the Chief
Counsel for Technology, United States Department of Commerce,
Washington, DC 20230. The request must include a sworn affidavit
which states that the toy, lookalike, or imitation firearms will be
used only in the theatrical, movie or television industry. A
sample of the item must be included with the request.
Sec. 1150.5 Preemption
In accordance with section 4(g) of the Federal Energy
Improvement Act of 1988 (15 U.S.C. 5001(g)), the provisions of
section 4(a) of that Act and the provisions of this part supersede
any provision of State or local laws or ordinances which provides
for markings or identification inconsistent with the provisions of
section 4 of that Act or the provisions of this part.
