The whole story is over at wirecutter's.
But I want to talk to the ladies and to you dude's who have ladies you want to outfit.
Wisco is all over that. Okay that didn't sound right.
He's exploring women's bodies in regards to body armor. Damn, still not right.
Okay, how's this? He's researching ways to make the body armor fit better and be more comfortable in light of a woman's different curves.
While I consider Wisco to be deliciously twisted, I also consider him to be a steadfast Patriot and very capable at his craft. In short, I trust him.
I would love to hear some feedback from you ladies. Would it make a difference if your tatas were slightly flattened under armor that could save your lives? Would the temporary discomfort be something that would prevent you from grabbing a set of this armor? What, in your opinions, would make it more comfortable, more workable?
I was going to make a run to the big city to try on carriers and see what fits and what doesn't and if the discomfort was slight squishing or mammogram torture. Unfortunately, the momvan has been waiting for an elusive power steering line for a week. But as soon as I can, I'll report back. Just know I'm getting some for myself and the girls.
So click the link and go check it out.
NOTE:
Since Ray brought it up in the comments, I want to put it here in black and white.
" This prices out as follows: 660+50+110+110=930. 930/11= $84.54/set. USPS “If it fits, it ships” postage is $12.35 for 1-2 sets. I tried 3 but the boxes won’t hold up. Pick up or delivery might be available if you are near to where I live or work."
Folks, that's $84.54 per SET. USPS $12.35. So total $96.89 for a complete set of armor plates.
The only problem I see is price. AR-500 sells their plates for 65$ per plate for a rifle cut Level III plate with ant- spall coating. I have tested one of them myself. I hit it three times with a 30.06 150gr ball round from a M-1903 Springfield @ 200 yards-no holes. You can get a full set of AR-500 plates Front-back and sides for just over 200$---Ray
ReplyDeleteRay, if I'm not mistaken, that's the price per SET not per plate. $84.54 per set, front, back and two sides.
ReplyDeleteThe Steel plates will keep you from getting a sucking chest wound, but the blunt force will be incredible. Buy the ceramic plates if you can afford them. The ceramic gives more when hit. The steel plates make a great back up or low budget alternative. Either way if you get hit, it's still gonna hurt like a mutha.
ReplyDeletetongue tied?
ReplyDeleteYeh that is good!!--Ray
ReplyDeleteRay, et al.
ReplyDeleteAR500(the company) uses AR500(the steel) plate. I'm using Mil-A-46100. When I started this a while back I talked to wirecutter and laid out the armor options: 46100 at $660/sheet or AR500 at $460/sheet. The answer was, quote "Fuck it, get the milspec."
That adds $20/set.
Here's a link on the milspec:
http://www.titussteel.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/02/46100E_spec.pdf
Here is some info on the AR500:
http://ar500steel.net/body-armor-plate-materials-2/
I was under the impression that armor which is practical, functional, AND ladylike, looks like this: http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_sPstvMfNLRI/TSZr0fQy8gI/AAAAAAAAABo/fMyN7bAxMDk/s1600/597938-saber_with_sword_large.jpg
ReplyDeleteNot mashed, but also not out catching anything. And it looks amazing.
Slight smashing wouldn't bother me, provided it didn't impede the ability to breathe well which I doubt it would. The problem I see with fitting women's armour well would be that while guys are decently easy to fit well, women are so vastly different in build that it would be hard to get things fitted as well. Having said that, a slight smooshing would not keep me from wearing armour.
ReplyDeleteThere are a few different approaches I could see being feasible for female fit, but I see issues with all of them so I would need to think it through a bit more. One idea that initally popped up was to do it in the style of a corset. Not to sound fetishish, but if you've ever looked at the construction of them, they would be easily adaptable. I'm not talking about a waist cinching one, but a semi-fitted one. You'd basically make the pieces into many panels and slide them into channels. To deal with coverage over the top of the chest, a piece could be made that slid in horizontally to fit down snugly on top of the chest. If you are needing a visual, let me know and I can email you some pics of different ones for an idea.
(Random but related aside: Did you know that when the Romanovs were being executed after the Revolution, thely initially couldn't kill the Grand Duchesses' because they'd sewed their jewels into their corsets so the bullets were bouncing off like it was body armour.)
So probably out in left field, but it's a thought. Then again, it probably was an idea that happened since I've worn different type of corsets before and they really aren't as awful as people make them out to be.
-CM