Who invented bullet-proof vests?

O

Oleg Volk

Staff Alumnus
Someone here mentioned the inventor's name but I can't recall it...please help.

Never mind, found it: Grace Murray Hopper
Next quesion is "when"?

[This message has been edited by Oleg Volk (edited March 15, 2000).]
 
Are you talking the modern vest?
I know of armor used back in WW1 by the Germans..probably further back as well.
Knights used armor...as did romes legions using hardened leather...I'm sure the greeks did too but I'm not sure of that.Thiers wasnt bulletproof tho.
I dont know as it was so much an invention as an evolution.
 
A lot deoends on what you mean, Different types of body armor were developed by different people at different times. The first military body armor used in the 20th century was developed by the Germans, the British, and the French during World War One. THe German armo was the best and was widely used by the German SturmTruooen in 1918.

The first modern body armor was developed by the US Army and Marine Corps toward the end of World War Two. It was non-mettalic using ballistic Nylon. It was issued to US troops in Korea in 1953. It was not intended to be bullet proof but was designed to stop shell fragments, mortar fragments, and fragmnts from hand grenades.

Richard Davis pioneered modern soft body armor which he marketed as "Second Chance" armor. In the early days he used to convince sceptical police officers by shppting himself in the chest with a .38 Special to prove that it would stop the bullet. These demonstartions made a lot of true believers among Police officers who saw them!

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"I swear to defend the Constitution of the United States against all enemeis domestic or foreign WHOMSOEVER."

[This message has been edited by Hard Ball (edited March 25, 2000).]
 
Of course the ancient Greeks used armor. Heavily armored citizen infantry (Hoplites) in phlanx formation were the basis of their armies. That is why "The Greeks like to fight on a level field and amongst the losers there are no survivors."
I am wondering if anyone knows how old is the first evidence of armor (archaeological??).
 
In demonstrating his Second Chance Soft Body Armor in person and on tape, Richard Davis used to shoot himself point blank in the chest with a .44 Magnum. It certainly made a believer out of me and I was one of the first to buy a vest in my agency ('74) long before it provided them and that was before the State of California mandated them as safety equipment for peace officers.

Later, when he introduced 'hard armor inserts' he had someone else shoot him point blank in the chest with a 7.62x51 (.308) out of an FN I believe. He took the impact while standing on one foot to dispel the belief that the wearer would be knocked back and flat since he was able to remain upright.

[This message has been edited by SKN (edited March 16, 2000).]
 
has not been invented yet 'resistent yes proof no <BLOCKQUOTE><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial">quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by Oleg Volk:
Someone here mentioned the inventor's name but I can't recall it...please help.

Never mind, found it: Grace Murray Hopper
Next quesion is "when"?

[This message has been edited by Oleg Volk (edited March 15, 2000).][/quote]
 
Yes, please don't use the term "bulletproof vest" because there is no such thing. The correct term is soft body armor, which is rated to different levels of protection.
 
Perhaps the question should be rephrased as, "Who invented the modern bullet resistent vest?" The Gangsters of the roaring '20s had "bulletproof vests" which were made of sheet steel.

Speaking of WWI armor, the Italians actually came out with armor for their "engineers" which resembled a medievel suit of armor. The German half-face mask (for snipers) wasn't any good and bullets could easily penetrate it.
 
I could have sworn it was Algore!! ;)

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BOYCOTT SMITH AND WESSON!!!!!
The only justice for a traitor is at the end of a rope!!!!
Off my meds (quit smoking), armed to the teeth, and loose on an unsuspecting society!!!
 
Okay,denfoote....that was really good.

Or maybe it's just getting late...but I was laughing, anyway....


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*quack*
 
Wayte Erpp. Back in The old west. It is said that he wore a tightly stitched silk vests all the time. He was said to be a thin man by people who really "knew" him but all accounts are of a larger man. The vest were multi layer and I recall reports that he was hit but did not suffer serious injury.
Just a little trivial I recall reading in my youth.
 
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