Fall Overstock Sale! - SAVE 50% ON SELECT SKINS

The Idea for GunSkins was Started from a Hunting Experience Gone Wrong

The Idea for GunSkins was Started from a Hunting Experience Gone Wrong - GunSkins
The Idea for GunSkins was Started from a Hunting Experience Gone Wrong - GunSkins

Going into business was never something that was on the forefront of my mind. I just love hunting and I love shopping around for the right gear and apparel that makes shooting in the woods the best experience possible. However, it was a result of a poor experience that led me to ask the question: why isn't there a solution for my particular problem? To be more specific, why isn't there an quick and inexpensive way for match my rifle to the rest of my camouflage gear?

The Story

I carefully nestled into the rough combination of sage and timber, located at the base of a rocky bluff. Sunrise had yet to come up on this particular January morning, my first hunt of the year. I was ready, my call and decoy were located just where I wanted them. As soon as the sunlight was peeking through and providing more light, I briefly saw the blur which was a coyote dashing through the sage not 600 yards away. My decoy was working as it was luring him closer and closer. This was going to be an easy one, I thought to myself.

Boy was I wrong. About 400 yards out he suddenly stops and looks at my direction. Did he see me? I didn't have time to answer that. I aimed my AR-15 in his direction, but it was too late. He was gone. Where did I go wrong? I was decked in camouflage from head to toe, concealed to the environment and in perfect position. Then the painful answer was obvious when I inspected my weapon. My AR-15 Rifle featured a stainless barrel and scope, which is great for durability but the sunlight must have hit it just right and given my position away.

Rifle Skin (A-TACS IX)

Rifle Skin (A-TACS IX)

The Origin of the Concept

Then it hit me. How could I apply a camouflage finish to my scope that wouldn't cost an arm and a leg? Not only that, but I also needed something that was durable, able to withstand the day to day abuse that I put my guns through. I looked at existing options, such as hydro graphics, Cerakote, and vinyl wrap kits. Vinyl was the most economical solution, but using it to wrap a gun was still new territory. So I started experimenting and researching, which inevitably led from one thing to another.

By partnering with reliable production partners and officially licensed camouflage brands, I created GunSkins as the solution for my problem. The material I use is extremely flexible, a heat stretch not heat shrink. It's ideal for small curves, edges, and recessed corners. Vinyl was commonly used to wrap cars and trucks, but I made it work for a new application: guns and gear. I developed precut kits from the ground up, focusing on popular firearms such as AR-15s, AK-47s, pistols and more. It was important for me to offer something that was easy to install and would last a long time.

GunSkins has humble beginnings. Like Amazon.com, we too started in our garage. We are a small business in a small town, and we think this helps make each and every customer feel like their order was personal and appreciated. We are always open for suggestions and take pride in our customer service. Since our launch in 2013, we have grown out of our garage and now mass produce our kits on a large scale and ship worldwide. What hasn't changed, however, is the fact that every GunSkins kit is still proudly made in the USA.

AR-15 Rifle Skin (Kryptek Highlander)

AR-15 Rifle Skin (Kryptek Highlander)

The Solution

Vinyl wraps may be less expensive than some of the other gun finishes out there, but that does not mean our product is cheap. We use only the highest quality vinyl for our kits, providing you with durability, color guarantee, and 100% waterproof. Another advantage is that GunSkins are non-permanent, unlike some of the other options. The vinyl can be removed to allow for a different pattern to fit the season. I believe in our product so much, I decided to offer a lifetime warranty for every kit.

The vinyl protects the surface of your gun, but the camouflage pattern protects you in the field. It was important for us to offer only the best and most popular names in camouflage, such as A-TACS, Kryptek, Realtree, and more. That way, you can match the GunSkins wrap to apparel and gear of the same pattern. That would have changed the outcome of my coyote hunt, for sure.

Shotgun Skin

Shotgun Skin (Prym1 Multi-Purpose)

Many other gun finishes require sending your gun away or waiting hours or days for the finished product to be usable. That didn't sit well with me. I designed GunSkins with the end user in mind, as a simple DIY project that can be accomplished in just a few hours. I'm not just saying that to pitch a sale. My personal gun safe is filled with firearms and magazines all wrapped in GunSkins. This is something I use in my personal life year round.

GunSkins has taken me to places I never thought I would ever go. Our recent booth at SHOT SHOW in Las Vegas has encouraged me and my work. All of the reception has been positive and I still love it just as much as our customers! I am proof that this works. My subsequent hunting trips have not been as disappointing as it was that early January morning. That was the last one that got away as a result of hunting with an unwrapped gun.

93 comments

  • Robert Dryman: October 20, 2020
    Author's avatar image

    can you make kits for compound bows? I want to wrap my Elite Answer bow with Kuiu Verde.

  • GunSkins: October 20, 2020
    Author's avatar image

    Diana, we don’t have any plans on offering a template specifically for laser tag guns. We advise using our generic uncut sheets to custom cut and install on a laser tag gun, trimming to fit. Depending on how many guns you intend to wrap, we offer the Medium Gear Skin (8” x 15”) and the Large Gear Skin (8” x 50”).

  • Diana Ocampo: October 19, 2020
    Author's avatar image

    Hi, can your company do wraps for laser tag guns?

  • GunSkins: October 19, 2020
    Author's avatar image

    Mike, the Scope Skin measures 8″ × 15″.

  • Mike Donovan: October 17, 2020
    Author's avatar image

    wondering the material size for the scope kit?

  • GunSkins: September 30, 2020
    Author's avatar image

    Ash, you’re the first to request a different color for the Mercenary Skull. I’ll bring it up in our next product brainstorming meeting, along with Deadpool, but I can’t make any promises that it will be green-lit.

  • Ash: September 29, 2020
    Author's avatar image

    Any chance of a different color of the mercenary (Mandalorian) skull? Was hoping for blue.

    Or deadpool?

  • GunSkins: September 17, 2020
    Author's avatar image

    Denise, we don’t plan on offering any gold or silver options as solid colors do not blend well with the piece and overlap approach of our product. We will, however, soon offer the Crusader’s Cross for our Magwell and Mag Skins that contain gold and silver textures.

  • GunSkins: September 17, 2020
    Author's avatar image

    Michael, we are actually considering offering larger rolls of our products for applications like you mentioned. Stay tuned.

  • Denise Potts: September 16, 2020
    Author's avatar image

    looking for a gold or silver shin for a AR15 do you have it

  • Michael Burgess: September 16, 2020
    Author's avatar image

    Hey guys!!! Great product!!!
    Now how can i get big enough sheets to cover my truck and off road coyote chasers??
    Take care be safe!!
    Alan Burgess

  • GunSkins: September 02, 2020
    Author's avatar image

    Brad, we are currently working on a Texas Flag pattern in addition to the Crusader’s Cross. Stay tuned for more information!

  • GunSkins: September 02, 2020
    Author's avatar image

    Our phone number is 855-770-7800. However, we respond to email inquiries with a quicker turnaround time than voicemail messages. Email us at support@gunskins.com with your questions.

  • Brad Meeks: September 01, 2020
    Author's avatar image

    Would like to see the patterns considered:
    Lone Star State Pattern (we Texans will buy alot)
    48 Star Flag (maybe a weathered version as well)
    Anything that references WWII (OD Green, Broken Star Pattern, AAF Pattern, Etc.)

  • Nate Lucas: September 01, 2020
    Author's avatar image

    What’s your landline number?

  • Richard Hood: August 27, 2020
    Author's avatar image

    Got my pistol skin installed today. Looks awesome. Thanks

  • GunSkins: August 26, 2020
    Author's avatar image

    Greg, the only pattern we offer that contains purple hues is Realtree Wild Orchid.

  • Greg: August 25, 2020
    Author's avatar image

    Can we a purple variant?

  • GunSkins: August 24, 2020
    Author's avatar image

    Horker, the feel of the vinyl is comparable to a synthetic polymer, which isn’t very tacky. From what you described, I believe our Grip Assist is the solution for you.

  • Horker : August 21, 2020
    Author's avatar image

    Are guns skins grippy! I purchased a blank Glock slide that is not serrated. I was wondering if the vinyl would offer a decent enough grip to assist in racking the slide?

Leave a comment