The sciences of ballistics and body armor go hand in hand when dealing with the subject of personal protection. The history of bullets is parallel to the history of firearms and the means of preventing a fatality if one is ever hit. Around the late Middle-Ages, Filippo Negroli, an Italian armourer renowned for his skills with fashioning steel, was commissioned by Francesco Maria della Rovere, Duke of Urbino, to create the first bullet-proof apparel. Filippo became even more famous as several esteemed clients approached him to make more bullet-proof armor.

However, as time passed, it became apparent that these body armors were more of a nuisance in battle rather than protection. It proved a little too heavy for soldiers to wear, and at the same time, it bogged down movement and agility. As firearms became even more powerful, it ultimately rendered all types of body armor inefficient and was discarded as the passage of years continued.

The 19th century

In the 1860's, when the French went to war against Korea, Heungseon Daewongun ordered the production of soft ballistics vests to counter the increasing threat of invasion from western armies. These were sewed with thirty layers of thick cotton and were used most effectively. As the years passed, Korea also became embroiled in a war against the US, which led to the former sending an expeditionary force against the latter. The US managed to capture one of these vests and took it back for study. It forced the US to research new ideas for ballistics protection and to try to improve upon the bulletproof cotton.

It was only in the 1880s when an Arizonian named George Emery Goodfellow started experimenting on silk, that his investigations of woven jackets sewn with thirty layers of silk, which resembled Gambesons, proved more effective in stopping a bullet than the cotton design.

The early 20th Century

Using Goodfellow's research, Casimir Zeglen from Chicago, developed and marketed bulletproof vests that cost around 800 dollars in the year 1914. These became an instant hit all over the world and proved to be successful in saving lives. As few years passed, and firearms became increasingly powerful, more research was needed and new technologies were sought to combat the ever growing possibility of the vests becoming obsolete.

The middle 20th Century

As World War 2 exploded into world history, the different armies of opposing countries developed flak jackets for protection against shrapnel and other dangers. They were designed for Air force crewmen but not for ground troops as it did little to stop high impact bullets. A few models, based upon the design of flak jackets, were experimented and improved upon by the Japanese but these designs were in rare use. The soviets also manufactured designs of their own but incorporated the use of steel plates sewn on top of the vests.

At the closing stages of the 2nd world war, the US developed its own body armor similar to that of the SN-42 but with a light protective plate made of fiberglass laminate. This was used with efficient results as in the Battle of Okinawa. A few years later, when the Korean War erupted, the vest was redesigned once more to reduce the weight. This compromise proved to be faulty for the vest, as it failed to stop bullets and shrapnel efficaciously. However, as progress increased over the years, these light platings were modified and renewed as such that local police forces used these early ballistic vests to a great extent. It provided riot cops and patrol officers the necessary bullet-resistant apparel to feel safe and protected from a lot of dangers.

The late 20th Century

The 70's was a time of awakening, both for citizens and law-enforcers alike, in terms of personal safety. Kevlar, developed by Stephanie Kwolek, was realized as a potential ingredient to making highly effective body armor. It was originally intended for commercial use but the military saw its true potency. This synthetic fiber was immediately introduced and ultimately integrated into the National Institute of Justice program evaluation of lightweight concealed body armor. It was then determined that it should be used to manufacture bulletproof jackets (or concealed vests) so that law enforcers or military troops would be able to wear it everyday and still feel comfortable with it.

Over the years, new designs and new technology have been introduced and all have improved over its failings. The recent rise of modern urban conflicts and the growing threat of subterfuge activities have taken precedence on the subject of personal protection. One is tempted to choose the option of hiding in the mountains or face all of it with indomitable courage. Freedom is the right to live without the threat of oppression or any other form of subjugation. These bulletproo jackets offer the kind of confidence and security that one can feel comfortable with whether taking a walk outside the streets or strolling through a valley of darkness.

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