Napier Universal Cleaning Mat

When I first noticed this product I viewed it with the same scepticism that I reserve for most accessories.

Something however made me look twice, and on that second look I thought that Napier could just be onto something with this mat.  After all, the idea is simple enough, a length of fabric to give protection both to the surface under the mat and to the rifle on which you are working.

The Right Stuff

The underside of the mat is made from neoprene and therefore offers some padding if you have the mat on a hard surface as well as being non slip.  The upper surface is a lint free felt type material in a pale grey finish which should make any small tools or bits of equipment easy to spot.  The whole thing is resistant to oils and the like, so any minor spills shouldn’t find their way onto the surface underneath the mat.

Size wise the mat measures 127 x 51cm which should be adequate for most rifles or shotguns.  At one end of the mat is a ridged rubber area which is meant to stop any tools, such as cleaning rods that you might be using from rolling off the mat.  Cut out from the rubber area are some circles, designed so that you can stand cans and bottles of oil conveniently and safely. 

So this is looking good for those of you that like to have everything in its place.  In fact the mat is designed in such a way that it can be rolled up with your favourite cleaning items inside so when you need to do any maintenance or cleaning, once you unroll the mat you have what you need ready and waiting.  A small carry handle is also incorporated for use once the mat is rolled up.

Home and Away

I think that this mat could be useful in a number of different situations.  The most obvious is of course use at home.  If you are lucky enough to have a workshop it may not be that helpful, but for the many shooters who find themselves in a spare bedroom or the living room doing their cleaning and maintenance I genuinely believe this is worth the £30 asking price, especially as it might just save your carpet from requiring some expensive cleaning of its own. 

As the mat also rolls up neatly and can accommodate some cleaning kit it is ideal for taking out shooting too.  It can be used if you are away for a weekends shooting to keep your kit in top condition or on surfaces you wouldn’t ordinarily place your shooting kit - damp grass for example – for routine maintenance or to give things a quick clean before returning home.

The Napier Universal Cleaning Mat has an RRP of £29.99 and is available from most good gunshops. For more information, visit the Napier website at www.napieruk.com