I have a very bad relationship with nice tables. Recently, for example, I managed to damage the surface of the kitchen table. My sister-in-law was able to repair it with one of her homespun remedies, but it reminded me that when working on cleaning or sharpening knives, it would be nice to have some kind of pad that I could put down over my work surface — one that wasn’t the tablecloth (as I don’t wish to try my family’s patience by staining the linens with Break Free CLP). Enter M2A2 Gun Mats, which offers a complete line of custom solutions to this problem.
The man behind the company is Keith Miller, a family man with a small business and too little free time in Louisville, Kentucky. Keith — who also owns Mean Street Graphix — was happy to send me a custom gun mat to evaluate. If you’re curious, “M2A2” is a combination of “Second Amendment” and “Miller Mats.” Keith is a staunch defender of your Constitutionally protected right to own a firearm, and he’ll gladly sell you a beautiful mat for cleaning guns, sharpening knives, or whatever other activity requires you to shield your table or desk.
Keith uses the same digital dye sublimation imprinting technology for his gun mats that he uses for all his other printing. He hit on the idea to do that after looking for gun mats online and finding most of them drab and boring. He wasn’t happy with the simple breakdown schematics or logos on them; he wanted something fun and cool. He designed one for himself, printed it off, and found that people loved it, so M2A2 was born. Shortly after launching his website he started seeing competitors release similar designs — which tells me he must be doing something right.
Gun mats are a great idea for several reasons. You can work on your gun, or clean it, using the mat to protect any surface from scratches. (As a bonus, the mat also protects the finish of the gun.) The mat prevents solvents or oils from damaging the desk or table beneath, and also prevents small parts like springs or pins from rolling around and getting lost.
“Plus,” Keith added when The Martialist spoke to him, “your gun just looks cool on one of our mats. It’s like a freedom supermodel lying on fresh linen sheets.”
In execution, the mat is essentially a huge, well-made mouse pad, at least in terms of look and feel. While, in Keith’s words, “a gun mat is just a gun mat,” Keith thinks his designs set his work apart from the competition. He’s not wrong. Keith himself used an old piece of carpet for years, but his mats are much more attractive and functional. He offers designs for different branches of military service, pro Second Amendment pieces, and more. You can find a gun mat that matches your personality, expresses an attitude you have, and just about anything you can imagine. While Keith releases new designs every month, you can even have him custom design one or add your company logo or brand.
“We want everyone to be using our mats,” Keith told The Martialist. “If you don’t see something on our website you like, call me. We are constantly looking to add new designs. Your idea might be something that someone else would like, too. Plus, we are happy to make branded mats for resale or giveaway at ranges, gun stores, and more. Our competitors aren’t doing that.”
Get your gun mat today from M2A2 Gun Mats.