Stab vests have come an essential piece of equipment for many security professionals today, but how reliable are they?
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To start with, please let me highlight that no stab vests are completely &#;impenetrable&#;. This is one of the reasons why most companies refer to their products as &#;stab resistant vests&#; or &#;stab resistant body armour&#;.
All bullet or stab resistant vest, or dual threat vests (offering both ballistic and edged weapon protection) can be defeated. How? The stated performance levels are simply subject to the type of edged weapon the body armour is potentially being subjected to (i.e. standard kitchen knife, combat knife, machete, meat cleaver, broken bottles etc.) the speed of the attack, and the angle the knife is heading your way.
Stab vests are made from a range of different materials, for example aramid fibres (i.e. Kevlar®), polycarbonate or if you really want to be on the safe side, carbon-fibre.
You need to know that fine variations between available models can indeed make the great difference of you coming home safely or not at all. Some body armour manufacturers will make phenomenal claims, of which many are most certainly unsustainable. Not being able to &#;read between the lines&#; may well see you end up purchasing stab vests, which ultimately will not d their job the day it matters the most.
Governments all over the world have put very sensible &#;safety nets&#; in place. They make mandatory that stab vests are being officially tested and consequently certified, so any body armour manufacturer can substantiate the claims they are making. All certifications should be made easily available to all potential customers or clients, so they can make the best possible and more importantly most informative decision.
Each performance level must have its specific certification. This means CAST KR1 certified stab vests are certified against this unique threat: Knives&#; and that means knives only!
However, CAST KR1/SP1 certified stab vests are certified against both, knifes and spikes. There is a real difference here. Not all stab vests offer spike protection, please be aware of that.
You are within your rights to ask your provider to present the appropriate certifications. In fact, you really should do so.
The following video is featuring a scientific test rig, testing a body armour against a knife:
In regard to the protection from blunt force, or also called impact protection, the situation is the very same. Only because a body armour manufacturer is utilising or incorporating a more rigid material or &#;trauma liner&#;, it doesn&#;t mean it is or will be &#;certified&#;. In fact, its performance remains unknown or questionable until a certification has been issued. To seek clarification, you must ask for the certification. There is in fact a dedicated certification available, the German body armour standard/certification called VPAM W1-W5.
PPSS Group&#;s highly acclaimed stab vests are the UK&#;s only model offering the highest level of blunt force or impact protection W5 (100 Joules of impact energy). Our video demo gives you an indication what level of protection this represents in &#;real life&#;:
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In case you have any questions or wish to meet with our Technical Director Colin Mackinnon (27 years with UK Police, Counter Terrorism, Surveillance, Covert Ops and Firearms) please contact us.
While bulletproof vests are designed to protect against bullets, many wonder, can a knife go through a bulletproof vest? The short answer is, yes, but the long answer requires an awareness of a few important factors.
It is important to understand that the requirements for knife and ballistic protection vary. A high rating in one field does not ensure a corresponding high rating in the other. While all of Premier Body Armor&#;s products have a natural knife resistance, they are not specifically designed for protection against stab or slash attacks.
You can learn more about body armor ratings for ballistic threats in our article, and learn more about stab rating NIJ standards.
Spike rating is a metric developed by the National Institute of Justice (NIJ) that measures the stab resistance of armor. A level 1 spike rating indicates that the armor will protect against attacks with a force of 17.7 foot-pounds or less. Level 2 protects against attacks of 24.3 foot-pounds or less, and level 3 protects against attacks up to 31.7 foot-pounds in strength. A foot-pound is the amount of energy required to move 1 pound a distance of 1 foot.
The company is the world’s best Stab-Proof Vest supplier. We are your one-stop shop for all needs. Our staff are highly-specialized and will help you find the product you need.
The NIJ also provides an &#;edged blade&#; resistance chart, that indicates body armor with a level 1 spike rating also protects against slash threats of the same intensity.
When looking for the right body armor for knife protection, you should look for armor that offers slash protection as well as stab resistance. This will provide protection against both types of attacks.
Furthermore, consider the material that the ballistic armor is made from. Kevlar and polyethylene are the two most common materials used to make armor to protect against knife attacks. Ceramic and steel can also provide some level of protection. These products will often carry a &#;stab resistant&#; or &#;slash proof&#; designation.
However, it's important to note that no body armor is completely stab proof. Even the most effective armor can be penetrated by a determined attacker. That being said, body armor can still provide a significant level of protection and can reduce the risk of serious injury or death in the event of a knife attack.
Nowadays, most ballistic armor will provide some level of resistance against stab and slash risks, as modern manufacturing techniques and materials such as kevlar, polyethylene, ceramic and steel ensure armor that is durable enough to defend against both ballistic and knife threats.
Will a plate carrier stop a knife? Yes, a fully loaded plate carrier will provide some protection against a knife threat, as long as the strike lands on either a front or rear plate.
Kevlar is a synthetic fiber commonly used in body armor manufacturing due to its strength and durability. It can provide great protection against knife threats as the tightly woven fibers are difficult to puncture and can deflect slashing attacks as well. Many soft ballistic protection vests are made of kevlar due to all around utility and the lightweight construction.
Polyethylene body armor is another popular choice for both ballistic and knife protection. Due to the high molecular density, polyethylene provides excellent protection against stab attacks while maintaining strength and durability. Polyethylene is preferred by many because it is lightweight compared to its other rigid material counterparts.
Ceramic body armor is another choice that will provide protection against knife threats. This is in part due to the rigidness of the material. Ceramic armor plates are often combined with another form of armor, typically kevlar, to provide more protection while still keeping weight down.
Steel armor plates are capable of providing protection against knife threats, but are typically reserved for cases where ballistic threats are the most prevalent, as steel armor can be heavier than its alternatives. Steel armor might be preferred in stationary situations where mobility is not as important to the user.
Stab proof vests are highly effective at stopping knife threats, as they have been specially designed to do so, whether through choice of materials or a tightly woven construction method.
When it comes to effectiveness, the number of stabs a bulletproof vest can take depends on the material and design of the vest. While some vests may be able to withstand multiple stabs, others may only be effective against one or two attacks.
It's also worth noting that repeated stabbings in the same area can weaken the protection provided by the ballistic armor, so it's important to replace the vest after any such attack.
Finally, it's worth considering whether different ballistic armor ratings offer better stab resistance. While there is no one-size-fits-all answer to this question, higher-rated ballistic armor is generally more effective at stopping knife attacks than lower-rated armor. The NIJ provides a range of ratings for body armor, and it's worth considering these when choosing armor for knife protection.
In conclusion, while bulletproof vests are not specifically designed to protect against knife attacks, they can still offer some level of protection. Stab resistant ballistic armor is specifically designed to provide protection against knives, and there are a range of materials and ratings to choose from.
When choosing body armor for knife protection, it's important to consider the level of protection provided, the material used, and the body armor rating. Ultimately, while no body armor is completely stab proof, wearing any armor significantly reduces the risk of serious injury or death in the event of a knife attack.
Author: Aidan Shelton
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