street armor
- Thread starter sakimoto
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You're verging on fantasy, but you have two genuine armor options.
The first is motorcycle jackets, with built in kydex and kevlar. You can look fairly normal wearing these. The second option is surplus police riot gear~ obviously not low profile.
Leather jackets will tend to offer a lot of protection against knife attacks.
The first is motorcycle jackets, with built in kydex and kevlar. You can look fairly normal wearing these. The second option is surplus police riot gear~ obviously not low profile.
Leather jackets will tend to offer a lot of protection against knife attacks.
crazyjennyblack
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Honestly, other than a leather jacket it seems that very little is available. If you're resourceful, the best option might be to make your own concealed armor inside a regular jacket. This can be done cheaply and effectively, albeit with a fair bit of labor. Look at the concept of the "brigandine." This kind of armor was worn by the poorer folk in the Middle Ages.
http://www.santella.org/nicholas/armour/brig.htm
You can also find stab-proof inserts for police-style concealable ballistic vests as well, although they are pricey. Look carefully at the website http://www.bulletproofme.com and you will find a decent selection.
Best of luck!
http://www.santella.org/nicholas/armour/brig.htm
You can also find stab-proof inserts for police-style concealable ballistic vests as well, although they are pricey. Look carefully at the website http://www.bulletproofme.com and you will find a decent selection.
Best of luck!
lemaymiami
Member
As a guy who actually did wear armor for almost 22 years down in south Florida... you might want to re-think armor of any kind. From an early Second Chance that I had to pay for all the up to a threat level 3 PointBlank with metal chest insert.... I've had a variety (mostly issued by the department that I worked for ). All of them gave good protection from firearms and knives with one or two serious drawbacks. The biggest drawback is that, in daily wear, you have to be pretty determined or you'll take them off (and many I knew simply couldn't wear them in hot weather - 6 to 8 months a year down here in paradise...). The next biggest drawback is that they just don't cover all your vulnerable areas - and that's a very serious drawback if confronted with an opponent with a knife that has any training at all...
TurtleSkin
Why do you think you need this?
Why do you think you need this?
Border town
First of all I want to thank everyone for the information. I live in Southwest Texas right along the Mexican Border. For a small town or 40 thousand, we do have alot of violence. Especially when alcohol is involved. I was once acosted at knife point while I was riding my bicycle. Of course the attacker was intoxicated. When he came at me I did not see the knife until it was almost about to enter my sternum. Out of fright I threw my bicycle at him, and I guess that surprised him and he backed off. I was able to retreive my bicycle. When he backed off his neighbors came to my aid and disarmed him, but I was very shaken up. (Just to let you know this same person was killed by a friend when they were drinking an they got into an argument. He received a blow to the head with a pipe by his drinking buddy.) I was just asking for information purposes. Again I remember that Axel's Armory used to have a black leather vest of aluminum plates. Very nice, but they do not make it any more. Again Thank you for all your help.
First of all I want to thank everyone for the information. I live in Southwest Texas right along the Mexican Border. For a small town or 40 thousand, we do have alot of violence. Especially when alcohol is involved. I was once acosted at knife point while I was riding my bicycle. Of course the attacker was intoxicated. When he came at me I did not see the knife until it was almost about to enter my sternum. Out of fright I threw my bicycle at him, and I guess that surprised him and he backed off. I was able to retreive my bicycle. When he backed off his neighbors came to my aid and disarmed him, but I was very shaken up. (Just to let you know this same person was killed by a friend when they were drinking an they got into an argument. He received a blow to the head with a pipe by his drinking buddy.) I was just asking for information purposes. Again I remember that Axel's Armory used to have a black leather vest of aluminum plates. Very nice, but they do not make it any more. Again Thank you for all your help.
If you can avoid such neighborhoods where you're more likely to encounter violent people you're much better off than armoring up. Your use of your bike as a defensive tool was right on target, although throwing it may not be ideal if the guy attacking you hadn't broken off.
The challenge with any and all protective clothing is that it introduces problems with mobility and heat management. In a cold climate this isn't as big an issue, but in hot ones it can be deadly.
An open mesh like chain mail under or in a light garment may be the best answer for anti stab/slash armor in a hot climate. It won't do anything against an ice pick that will slip through the openings, but it could do very well against a normal knife when the right steel is used. You can make your own vest if you don't want to purchase one.
The challenge with any and all protective clothing is that it introduces problems with mobility and heat management. In a cold climate this isn't as big an issue, but in hot ones it can be deadly.
An open mesh like chain mail under or in a light garment may be the best answer for anti stab/slash armor in a hot climate. It won't do anything against an ice pick that will slip through the openings, but it could do very well against a normal knife when the right steel is used. You can make your own vest if you don't want to purchase one.
rcmodel
Member in memoriam
Time to move.
Moving would be a way better option then having to wear body armor to go about your life without looking to get stabbed or shot everyday.
rc
While I am typically skeptical of these kinds of postings, here are a couple links to modern materials and industrial clothing which are used for high risk industrial manufacturing applications such as sheet glass manufacture, metal work and meat processing.
http://superfabric.com/
http://www.cut-tex.com/industry/#24
http://www.hexarmor.com/products/detail/hexjacket/
http://superfabric.com/
http://www.cut-tex.com/industry/#24
http://www.hexarmor.com/products/detail/hexjacket/
mgregg85
Member
I was watching "The Wire" and when the character Omar Little was in prison he was worried about getting shanked so he wrapped two large, thick books around his torso and taped them in place. It's an excellent tv show about the Baltimore police if you ever get a chance to watch it.
This kind of field expedient armor wouldn't be realistic for daily use but it could be life saving in an emergency.
This kind of field expedient armor wouldn't be realistic for daily use but it could be life saving in an emergency.
There are few places that sell affordable "Spectra" fiber shirts, many out of the UK where knives are the threat instead of guns. These are light, and breathable and look like normal clothing on the outside. But like any protective clothing that isn't a solid plate (this includes most bullet-resistant vests) it will not stop direct stabs with slender implements. I did recently seen one of these companies selling full "stab vests" but it uses flexible steel alloy plates (think tape measure, but thicker). Mind, such vests are "overt" and not designed to be concealable.
stringer87
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- Jan 29, 2012
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maybe try a burn barrel with cutouts for the arms and legs.
crazyjennyblack
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I hope I'm not the only one who is slightly taken aback by the attitude a couple of posters have shown on this thread. "Fantasy" and "why do you need this" comments seem to denigrate the OP's genuine concern. Remember, there are plenty of people out there who think that lawful concealed carry is an indicator of living in fantasy land because "you don't need it." OP, please don't let others tell you what you need and don't need, when they haven't walked in your shoes.
No, it is not always possible to move, and sometimes the bad guys have more knives at their disposal than guns, depending on the area.
When I was a teenager, I considered wearing armor very much like this. I lived in a bad neighborhood, but because I lived with my parents I had no way to move to get away from it. I got the chance to walk to school every morning and afternoon a half mile through the worst places in town. Believe me, I thought about making some kind of armor, and nearly needed it a couple of times. I settled for a heavy biker jacket that I got at a yard sale.
No, it is not always possible to move, and sometimes the bad guys have more knives at their disposal than guns, depending on the area.
When I was a teenager, I considered wearing armor very much like this. I lived in a bad neighborhood, but because I lived with my parents I had no way to move to get away from it. I got the chance to walk to school every morning and afternoon a half mile through the worst places in town. Believe me, I thought about making some kind of armor, and nearly needed it a couple of times. I settled for a heavy biker jacket that I got at a yard sale.
No Man's Land
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It would need some minor modification for daily use. Cut the bottom down and wear it like an undershirt. I watch guys work 9+ hours a day in these things. And they are made specifically to stop knives.
http://www.safetycompany.com/products/Sperian-Whiting-Davis-Metal-Mesh-Tunic-MT50.html
http://www.envirosafetyproducts.com/stainless-steel-mesh-tunic.html
http://www.safetycompany.com/products/Sperian-Whiting-Davis-Metal-Mesh-Tunic-MT50.html
http://www.envirosafetyproducts.com/stainless-steel-mesh-tunic.html
Jenny, I have been moderating high-traffic online boards for over 11 years. The subject of this thread is about as likely as the threads about which medieval weapon to use for defense: in other words, pretty heavily into the fantasy side. I'm sorry you didn't take my good natured early warning in the spirit in which it was intended.
Are there people who live in areas where attacks with sharps are a frequent threat? Certainly. How likely is the wearing of "armor" as a response? Not very.
John
Are there people who live in areas where attacks with sharps are a frequent threat? Certainly. How likely is the wearing of "armor" as a response? Not very.
John
TimboKhan
Member
Jenny, to back up what JShirley said, while this may be a legitimate inquiry, the natural suspicion of a forum like this is immediately "Mall Ninja". There are gazillions of threads to reinforce and perpetuate that immediate suspicion. Even on a board as well moderated as the high road, I have read any number of utterly ridiculous threads relating to completely fantastical things. Honestly, my first thought was that this was some kid looking to parlay his recent purchase of a flea market sword into a full on street ninja kit, which is not only dumb, but likely to get him severely beaten if not killed. A main tenet of keeping yourself safe is to try to blend in, not to stand out. Legitimately, there was some question as to intent. a person looking for reasonable alternatives like a leather jacket is good conversation; a kid looking for a place to buy full on medieval armor while defending home and hearth from enemies real and imagined is not great conversation and quickly veers to the stupid, and locked.
Still, if you look, the guy actually did get some decent advice and some good links, and I think he established that he isn't a kook. I can also assure you that he got legitimate advice from not one, but two very well-informed and knowledgeable moderators, neither of whom are particularly inclined to let goofy mall ninja threads exist.
Still, if you look, the guy actually did get some decent advice and some good links, and I think he established that he isn't a kook. I can also assure you that he got legitimate advice from not one, but two very well-informed and knowledgeable moderators, neither of whom are particularly inclined to let goofy mall ninja threads exist.
hogshead
Member
My first though was Gecko. I did like the fire barrel idea though. Would like to see a prototype
There have been mesh suits available for divers for a long time but they are extortionately expensive. If you just wanted "vitals" torso protection you could probably source the mesh "fabric" in the meat cutting trade and buy a square yard of it and fashion a simple over the head "vest" poncho style. Cut a hole for the head/neck and some cordage to keep the sides together.
Boom-stick
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I think this might be what you are looking for.
http://www.bladerunner.tv/
Aimed at nightclub security and LEO's here in the U.K.
It's expensive and having handled some of their stuff at various shows, it's not too heavy, but if you want it, it's there.
As mentioned above, I'd get a motorcycle jacket, it's cheaper, or some downhill mountain bike body armour, if you must.
Personally, I'd invest your money in attended an AMOK! class with Tom Sotis. The skills learnt there mean you don't have to worry about forgetting to suit up before leaving the house in the morning.
Failing that, sign up with these guys: http://www.americanjoustingsociety.com/knights-of-mayhem/
http://www.bladerunner.tv/
Aimed at nightclub security and LEO's here in the U.K.
It's expensive and having handled some of their stuff at various shows, it's not too heavy, but if you want it, it's there.
As mentioned above, I'd get a motorcycle jacket, it's cheaper, or some downhill mountain bike body armour, if you must.
Personally, I'd invest your money in attended an AMOK! class with Tom Sotis. The skills learnt there mean you don't have to worry about forgetting to suit up before leaving the house in the morning.
Failing that, sign up with these guys: http://www.americanjoustingsociety.com/knights-of-mayhem/
wheelgunslinger
Member
Nope. You're not the only one.
It's how it is around here, with people acting like you need a permission slip from them to do something.
What the application or need may be is always important to ascertain to help understand what something is going to be used for instead of just making assumptions. Members ask questions all the time without providing details so if you're going to provide a useful response for their particular need then you need to understand the details. Why do you need this, how much do you have to spend, what are you going to actually use it for, what do you currently do with XYZ, are all questions that help focus responses instead of having a scattershot of replies that aren't useful.
Because we now know more details on sakimoto's situation and conditions, responses more useful to his particular perceived needs have been made.
Because we now know more details on sakimoto's situation and conditions, responses more useful to his particular perceived needs have been made.
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