Progress and Developments of the Concealed Bulletproof Vest

The following briefly describes how bulletproof vests started and evolved until the development of the Concealed Bulletproof Vest being widely used today.

The use of protective coverings used for protection was well documented in history. It started at the beginning of human race where animal skins were used. Later on, leather replaced raw animal skins as a protective covering. Leather was useful in preventing slash attacks and edged weapons. Further developments led to the use of wood and metals to protect the body from various attacks. The Greeks have brass and bronze made armors during the early times.

In the 16^th and 17^th century, when firearms and gun powders were invented, leather protections as well as metal coverings became ineffective. Moreover, they are bulky and heavy and restrain the wearer from moving. Firearm projectiles can easily harm and penetrate the leather and metal armors thus making them obsolete. In the 18^th to the 20^th century, silk armors were then introduced. The use of silk marked the start of the soft body armor. It was used as early as Medieval Japan, but it was only in 19^th century that US started using it a material for armor. Commercial bulletproof vest made of silk fabric was introduced and made available to the public by Casimir Zeglen of Chicao Illinois. At that time, this silk bulletproof vest was called Zeglen’s vest.

Because of the high cost of silk and its inability to give protection to high velocity bullets, silk armors were rendered obsolete. In 1901, there were several patents recorded showing different bulletproof designs and. And in World War II, flak jackets made of ballistic nylon became popular. This ballistic nylon was effective for shrapnel but never for bullets.  

It was only in 1970’s that Kevlar was discovered and was used for ballistic protection and became the main material for different body armors such as the Concealed Bulletproof Vest that is being used today. Kevlar is a high resistant and fiber initially intended for tires. After various tests were made, Kevlar was proven to be effective in stopping bullets and in reducing the impact of these bullets. Today, many Concealed Bulletproof Vests made of different lightweight materials similar to Kevlar are dominating the industry.