DeadEye,

What DeadEye, does

DeadEye, Inc. (DBA: DeadEye Finishing, DEI Coating Solutions) is a privately held custom coating and finishing service provider founded around 2017 in Lowry, Minnesota, by co-founders Mike and Anthony. The business began as a hydrographics operation in a converted calf barn and has expanded into a multi-service finishing shop with a headcount of 1-10. Its core offerings are organized around four service lines: Cerakote ceramic coatings (Elite, H, C, F, and Specialty series), hydrographics / water transfer printing (including licensed Realtree and Mossy Oak camouflage patterns), laser engraving, and full automotive / vehicle restoration supported by media blasting and RhinoPro protective linings. Industrial Moly and Teflon coatings round out the product portfolio. The company is a certified Cerakote applicator, certified by TWN Industries for hydrographics and by Martin Senour Paints for automotive paint, and holds a Type 07 Federal Firearms License with a Class 2 Special Occupational Taxpayer registration that legally enables firearm finishing and accessory manufacturing.

The underlying technology is physical craft rather than software: ceramic coatings applied via spray, hydrographic films dipped in water-transfer tanks, precision laser engraving, and surface preparation using glass, plastic, soda, walnut shell, and sand media blasting. Revenue is generated on a per-project, quote-based pricing model across one-time service engagements, with a stated turnaround of approximately three to four weeks for coating work and free estimates for autobody repair. The go-to-market motion is direct-to-consumer — walk-in service at the Lowry facility during business hours, inbound phone inquiries, online quote requests through a Shopify-powered website, and a shipping/FFL-compliant intake process for remote firearm customers. Marketing is concentrated on organic social channels (Facebook, Instagram, X, YouTube) and a gallery-driven website showcasing completed work, supported by co-marketing relationships with firearms brands (Magnum Research, Maxim Defense), sporting goods retailers (Reeds Sporting Goods, Dialed Archery), and camo IP licensors (Mossy Oak, Realtree, TWN Industries, Liquid Print One).

The customer base is fragmented across two primary use-case segments — firearms (gun owners, dealers, and manufacturers needing durable, FFL-compliant finishes) and automotive restoration (classic cars, motorcycles, big rigs, tractors, boats, trailers) — with a secondary outdoor/sporting enthusiast persona seeking personalized camo and custom finishes. Pricing is not publicly disclosed and is delivered on a per-item or per-job basis. Operating geographies are limited to the Midwest USA with the ability to ship items nationally subject to FFL documentation requirements for firearms.

Name

DeadEye,

Legal name

DeadEye, Inc.

Website

https://deadeyelg.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2011

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

DeadEye is a Lowry, Minnesota-based custom coating and finishing shop offering Cerakote, hydrographics, laser engraving, media blasting, and automotive restoration services to firearms owners, vehicle restorers, and outdoor enthusiasts across the Midwest USA.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Custom Coating and Finishing Services

NAICS

Coating, Engraving, Heat Treating, and Allied Activities (3328)

SIC

Coating, Engraving & Allied Services (3470)

akta.pro industry

PRIMARYIMAIAAAK

Industrial & Commercial Painting/Coatings/Surface Treatment

Industrials, Manufacturing & Construction/Industrial Services & Facility Operations/Facilities Management (Integrated FM)

Keywords

• Custom coating services
• Ceramic coating application
• Hydrographics water transfer
• Automotive restoration services
• Firearm finishing services

Headquarters

HQ city

Lowry

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Supply Chain, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Custom Coating Services: Revenue generated from applying Cerakote, hydrographics, and other coating finishes to customer-provided items including firearms, automotive parts, and industrial equipment. Services are priced per item/project with turnaround time of approximately 3-4 weeks.
2. Autobody and Restoration Services: Vehicle restoration and repair services including fender bender repair, classic car restoration, customization, and media blasting. Free estimates provided; services billed per job.
3. Laser Engraving Services: Custom laser engraving services for firearms, tools, and other items requiring precise markings or personalization.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

DeadEye is a custom coating and finishing service provider that applies Cerakote ceramic coatings, hydrographics (water transfer printing), laser engraving, and RhinoPro protective linings to customer-supplied firearms, automotive parts, and industrial equipment. The company also runs a full-service autobody and vehicle restoration shop offering repairs, classic car restoration, custom builds, and media blasting. It operates as an FFL-licensed (Type 07, Class 2 SOT) applicator in Lowry, Minnesota.

Product overview

DeadEye is a custom coating and finishing company offering a portfolio of specialized surface treatment services. The core offerings include Cerakote (ceramic coatings in multiple series), Hydrographics (water transfer printing), Laser Engraving, and full Automotive/Autobody services. The company also provides industrial coatings (Moly, Teflon) and operates as an FFL dealer with Class 2 SOT for firearm finishing. Services are offered as standalone offerings that customers can combine for comprehensive customization projects on firearms, vehicles, and industrial equipment.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Automotive/Autobody Services Full-service autobody and vehicle restoration including fender bender repairs, classic car restoration, custom builds, motorcycle-to-big-rig work, media blasting, and RhinoPro protective linings for truck beds, bumpers, and flooring. Targeted at individual vehicle owners and restoration enthusiasts.
• Cerakote Coating Ceramic-based coating service offering abrasion/wear resistance, corrosion resistance, chemical resistance, impact strength, and hardness. Available in Elite Series, H-Series, C-Series (high temp), F-Series (PFAS free), and Specialty finishes, applied to firearms, tools, automotive parts, and equipment.
• Hydrographics (Water Transfer Printing) Water transfer printing service for customizing 3D objects with camo patterns, custom prints, or partner-supplied films from Realtree, Mossy Oak, TWN Industries, and Liquid Print One. The technology is the same as used on luxury car finishes.
• Laser Engraving Precision laser engraving service for personalizing and marking firearms, automotive parts, tools, and other equipment.
• Moly and Teflon Industrial Coatings Manufacturing-grade coatings including Moly (molybdenum disulfide) and Teflon applied for industrial and mechanical applications on customer-supplied parts.
• Firearm Intake and Finishing (FFL Services) FFL-licensed (Type 07) firearm finishing services with Class 2 SOT, including intake form processing and scope waiver documentation for firearms customization and coating. Targeted at gun owners, firearms manufacturers, and dealers.

Quantifiable outcome

• Coating turnaround time: approximately 3-4 weeks
• +2 more outcomes

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature5 records

Partnerships

Nine partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• Magnum ResearchminorGTM or Marketing PartnerPartner brand featured on DeadEye's website. Magnum Research manufactures firearms and accessories. The partnership likely involves co-marketing through the DeadEye Partners page.
• Reeds Sporting GoodsminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorPartner retailer shown on DeadEye's Partners page. Reeds Sporting Goods is a sporting goods retailer that may refer customers or sell DeadEye-finished products.
• Maxim DefenseminorGTM or Marketing PartnerPartner brand featured on DeadEye's website. Maxim Defense manufactures firearms accessories and components. Co-marketing relationship through partner page.
• Liquid Print OnecoreTechnology or IntegrationHydrographic film vendor partner. Liquid Print One provides hydrographic films including custom design options. DeadEye links to their product catalog for film selection. Critical supplier for the hydrographics service line.
• CerakotecoreTechnology or IntegrationPrimary coating technology provider. DeadEye is a certified Cerakote applicator. They offer the full range of Cerakote products including Elite Series, H-Series, C-Series, F-Series, and Specialty coatings. Critical technology partnership.
• Dialed ArcheryminorGTM or Marketing PartnerArchery equipment brand featured on DeadEye's Partners page. May involve co-marketing or referral for archery equipment coating services.
• Mossy OakcoreTechnology or IntegrationCamouflage pattern licensing partner. DeadEye offers Mossy Oak camo patterns for hydrographics applications. Customers can browse patterns and DeadEye applies them. Core partnership for outdoor/sporting segment.
• RealtreecoreTechnology or IntegrationCamouflage pattern licensing partner. DeadEye offers Realtree camo patterns for hydrographics applications. Featured on both the Partners page and Hydrographics service page.
• TWN IndustriescoreTechnology or IntegrationHydrographic film catalog provider and technology partner. TWN Industries provides the film catalog that DeadEye offers to customers for pattern selection. Critical supplier for hydrographics services.

Scale indicators2 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Broad incumbents

• Cerakote (NIC Industries): Cerakote's parent NIC Industries is the dominant ceramic coating brand and operates the certified applicator program DeadEye belongs to. Comparable as the technology incumbent whose product line, brand, and certification framework define DeadEye's primary service offering.
• Nighthawk Custom: Nighthawk Custom is a high-end custom 1911 manufacturer with in-house finishing capabilities. Comparable as a firearms-segment incumbent that performs premium coatings in-house, representing both a potential customer (overflow work) and a vertically integrated competitor for premium firearm finishes.
• Maaco: Maaco is the largest U.S. franchised automotive refinishing and collision repair chain. Comparable as a broad incumbent in DeadEye's automotive/autobody restoration and refinishing segment, though at far greater scale and a more standardized offering.
• Caliber Collision: Caliber Collision is the largest U.S. collision repair operator. Comparable as a broad incumbent in the automotive refinishing/restoration segment that competes for the same vehicle owners, though focused on insurance-driven repair rather than custom/restoration work.

Others

• TWN Industries: TWN Industries is the largest hydrographic film catalog provider and a current technology partner of DeadEye. Comparable as the upstream supplier whose film library and licensing relationships underpin DeadEye's hydrographics service.
• Brownells: Brownells is a leading firearms retailer, parts distributor, and gunsmithing supplier. Comparable as an adjacent ecosystem participant whose customer base overlaps heavily with DeadEye's firearms finishing customers, making it a potential partner or indirect channel.

Direct peers

• Battleborn Coatings: Battleborn Coatings is a multi-location certified Cerakote applicator shop offering firearm coatings, hydrographics, and custom finishes. Comparable as a similarly-positioned small/mid-sized custom coating service competing for the same enthusiast customers.
• DuraCoat: DuraCoat (Lauer Custom Weaponry) is the principal competing firearms coating brand with its own applicator network, offering DuraCoat and Krylon-based firearm finishes. Directly comparable to DeadEye's Cerakote firearm-finishing service line in customer, use case, and competitive positioning.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/deadeyelg
• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UC-mw4HrpVwdJhC8LGuWzxqw?view_as=subscriber
• Facebookfacebook.com/DeadEyeLiquidGraphics
• Instagraminstagram.com/deadeyelg
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/deadeye-incorporated

Compliance3 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about DeadEye,