What Is the History of Bulletproof Vests?

A bulletproof vest is designed to blunt the impact from bullets and shrapnel from explosions. The vest is made from a mesh of layered fibers or laminated fibers. Bulletproof vests only provide protection for the torso.

First American Models

Americans became interested in bulletproof vests after the assassination of President William McKinley in 1901. Records show that patents and designs for such a vest date to 1919.

Flak Jacket

The flak jacket, made from ballistic nylon, was used in World War II. These cumbersome jackets did not work against bullets but proved to be effective against shrapnel.

Kevlar

In the '70s, DuPont developed Kevlar, a fiber initially intended for tires. In 1973, the Army developed a seven-layer fabric that proved effective at stopping bullets.

Testing

It took 5,000 test bulletproof vests before the right fiber was developed that not only stopped bullets, but minimized the damage from the impact.

Final Result

In 1976, Kevlar produced good enough results to become available as protection against bullets. Many private companies began to manufacture these vests.