First caveat, this is not a cheap project. The bag is about $140 plus tax and the armor plates will run close $200 for new ones. You'll need access to a sewing machine and a few other minor things as well. All told it's close to a $400 project.
If you are a journalist, work late nights in retail or the restaurant industry or live in a bad neighborhood you might have very rational reasons to want something like this. If you are in law enforcement or military service you've already got what you need. That being said...
In all seriousness, there really is no reason most of us will ever actually "need" anything like this at all. This Instructable is for entertainment purposes only, as in, not even educational purposes. Building, owning or using body armor may even be illegal where you live. If you have been convicted of felony you are likely prohibited from owning or using ballistic armor. Committing even misdemeanor offenses while using body armor in some cases may elevate those infractions to much higher level crimes. Please to not build something like this and use it at any sort of protest or even while you on a graffiti run. If you get caught but weren't in real/serious trouble before, you will be when your bag is searched and found to be armored. This is in fact my giant disclaimer and warning. If you build this, you are on your own.
This Instructable is how I armored my bag to level IIIA+.
If you are a journalist, work late nights in retail or the restaurant industry or live in a bad neighborhood you might have very rational reasons to want something like this. If you are in law enforcement or military service you've already got what you need. That being said...
In all seriousness, there really is no reason most of us will ever actually "need" anything like this at all. This Instructable is for entertainment purposes only, as in, not even educational purposes. Building, owning or using body armor may even be illegal where you live. If you have been convicted of felony you are likely prohibited from owning or using ballistic armor. Committing even misdemeanor offenses while using body armor in some cases may elevate those infractions to much higher level crimes. Please to not build something like this and use it at any sort of protest or even while you on a graffiti run. If you get caught but weren't in real/serious trouble before, you will be when your bag is searched and found to be armored. This is in fact my giant disclaimer and warning. If you build this, you are on your own.
This Instructable is how I armored my bag to level IIIA+.
Step 1: The armor
If you don't happen to have extra armor laying around you'll need to source some. I used standard run of the mill level IIIA armor with a small trauma plate. It's rated to stop "most" handgun rounds. The specs rate it to stop up to 9mm and 44 magnum. Though, it is important to note a few critical things.
A. That isn't a guarantee. Armor fails.
B. Unless you don't think getting kicked by a horse is a big deal, taking a hit from a 44 magnum even if your armor stops it will really get your attention. That's an awful lot of kinetic energy to absorb.
C. Armor wears out. Getting a cheap, beat up, surplus vest may not ultimately be a great idea. They wear out over time. If you are sourcing it and at all and serious about armoring something you may as well just buy new plates. They aren't terribly expensive compared to the value of not taking a bullet.
In most of the United States you can legally buy this type of armor everywhere from uniform shops to eBay. It's easy to find if you look. It is possible to get it inexpensively but again best to NOT buy budget body armor if you are going to buy it at all.
A. That isn't a guarantee. Armor fails.
B. Unless you don't think getting kicked by a horse is a big deal, taking a hit from a 44 magnum even if your armor stops it will really get your attention. That's an awful lot of kinetic energy to absorb.
C. Armor wears out. Getting a cheap, beat up, surplus vest may not ultimately be a great idea. They wear out over time. If you are sourcing it and at all and serious about armoring something you may as well just buy new plates. They aren't terribly expensive compared to the value of not taking a bullet.
In most of the United States you can legally buy this type of armor everywhere from uniform shops to eBay. It's easy to find if you look. It is possible to get it inexpensively but again best to NOT buy budget body armor if you are going to buy it at all.
Step 2: The bag
I used a standard messenger bag from Chrome Industries in San Francisco. It's a rugged and very well built bag. One advantage for this project is that it has a "floating" liner. So there is an easily accessible space between the part that carries the cargo and the outer fabric of the bag. It's stitched on the side next to your back but held in place with Velcro on the other.
An added bonus beyond ease of installation is that it will also be easy to remove the armor for any reason from, it's heavy to I'm going to the airport and have no idea if TSA prohibits this sort of thing nor do I wish to find out even over the phone.
An added bonus beyond ease of installation is that it will also be easy to remove the armor for any reason from, it's heavy to I'm going to the airport and have no idea if TSA prohibits this sort of thing nor do I wish to find out even over the phone.
Step 3: Measuring the armor and cutting
This was the hardest part of the project. Ballistic armor is predictably difficult to cut and you'll want to measure carefully so you don't mess up and ruin your project or find that you need to now spend more money to finish it.
I didn't make a pattern, just laid out the pieces and marked where to cut with chalk. Not at all tricky.
You might use large, sharp sheers if you have them. Whatever is handy and very sharp. Probably not going to cut it in one go. I have no idea what armorers use to cut this stuff. Probably big sheers or some industrial cutting machine.
I used a rotary cutter and sheers.
I didn't make a pattern, just laid out the pieces and marked where to cut with chalk. Not at all tricky.
You might use large, sharp sheers if you have them. Whatever is handy and very sharp. Probably not going to cut it in one go. I have no idea what armorers use to cut this stuff. Probably big sheers or some industrial cutting machine.
I used a rotary cutter and sheers.
Step 4: Make a simple sleeve for the armor plate
In the interest of longevity you'll want to make some sort of sleeve or cover for the armor plate. Nylon or rip-stop are probably best. I used an Instructables T-shirt for added robot protection.
This is very straight forward. Just follow the photos and the notes.
This is very straight forward. Just follow the photos and the notes.
Step 5: Securing the plates
I planned on using velcro to secure the plate but was fortunate and managed to fit it well enough that it isn't necessary. Other bag designs might require some sort of anchor and it's probably still a good idea. Though, I did note that my original plate carrier that these came from didn't have velcro or anything either.
Step 6: Value Added Extras
It fits pretty well and as long as no one has reason to thoroughly look inside the bag no one would have any reason to think it's armored. The weight isn't as noticeable as I thought it might be either. Ballistic armor in general isn't too heavy until you get into military combat models.
I did add velcro for patches on the strap facing up and slightly forward. Right now it holds and IR reactive US flag patch that lights up pretty bright when viewed with night vision. Probably not necessary but it makes you visible to authorities that would be the most likely people using night vision and identifies you to at least some extent as someone who isn't hiding from them. If you already know any more (or less), that explanation of these patches should be sufficient either way.
As an after thought, other than the fact that I have blasted my project across the internet, there really is no way anyone would suspect the plate in it's t-shirt casing is anything other than padding. If someone is dismantling your bag deeply enough to figure that out, you've got worse things to worry about anyway.
I did add velcro for patches on the strap facing up and slightly forward. Right now it holds and IR reactive US flag patch that lights up pretty bright when viewed with night vision. Probably not necessary but it makes you visible to authorities that would be the most likely people using night vision and identifies you to at least some extent as someone who isn't hiding from them. If you already know any more (or less), that explanation of these patches should be sufficient either way.
As an after thought, other than the fact that I have blasted my project across the internet, there really is no way anyone would suspect the plate in it's t-shirt casing is anything other than padding. If someone is dismantling your bag deeply enough to figure that out, you've got worse things to worry about anyway.
Step 7: Important information for everyone!
A friend of mine sent me this link. It's about as good a visual explanation as you'll get short of first hand experience. I hope this clears up any questions about the armor itself and Give a better idea of what a person wearing armor might experience if they are unfortunate enough to need it.
A very special thanks to Don at Box O' Truth for putting this out there for the benefit of all of us.
http://www.theboxotruth.com/docs/bot16.htm
A very special thanks to Don at Box O' Truth for putting this out there for the benefit of all of us.
http://www.theboxotruth.com/docs/bot16.htm
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Laws only apply to law-abiding citizens. Laws that infringe on basic human rights like self-defense only hurt those who already follow the law and have absolutely no effect on those who don't follow the law.
@Johnzilla: It's not a black and white issue. If I have to go through a background check to buy a rocket launcher, so be it. If it was a free-for-all, which no checks for anyone, even the smallest crimes would be committed by people with firearms, body armor, and no tags on their mattresses. The idea that the way to stop outlaws is by giving up rule of law is a sound idea, but the result is less ideal than how we have it now.
Though, no amount of background checks are going to stop anyone from obtaining much of anything they want if they are willing to ignore the law. Something criminals routinely demonstrate they are not only willing but pleased to do.
I think it's also kind of an argument by extension as well as a Red Herring to combine an argument for body armor regulation with firearms regulation. While cladistically related, they are functionally on opposite ends of the spectrum.
This discussion could go on forever with at least one point we can agree on, "it's not a black and white issue."
Do not try it other than to prove to yourself.
Now that said, I work in an office of cubicles, and people get fed up with corporate crap and you might have an active shooter scenario. As I cannot bring my legally purchased and registered firearm into the office, I have discovered that a tightly packed reem of printer paper will defeat or slow most hand guns. So toss one of those in your back pack or bag. I keep a few at my desk to elevate my monitor and "just in case" .
PS I think the armored bag is a great idea. I know IDF sells them on ebay, from small bags to full body shields that fold up into a messenger bag size.
Until the liberals let us defend ourselves, we will have to maintain the passive resistance.
The gangs wont stop wearing them. I wish politicians were smart enough to know that criminals who break major laws wont obey tiny ones either.
Great bag idea. I did my bedroom from the windows-down in 3/8 plate steel (yes, 3/8ths. Four of us couldnt lift it. We didnt see the guy who delivered it. We assumed catapult, magic, or worm-hole). I drilled holes where the studs were, then countersunk them, used hardened drywall screws-good luck finding them in town-then put my new drywall over the steel, then ran cheap regular drywall screws through the drywall into other holes in the steel I put there for that purpose (attaching to the old inner drywall. I lined up 1/16th holes in the new drywall with the holes in the steel by packing them with Prussian Blue chalk, then slapping the drywall with my hands up against it.
Helps that I bought 4'x4' drywall squares (I dont have a truck to fit 8'x4' pieces), they are much easier to manage.
Imagine an arrow hitting a sheet; is the arrow more likely to penetrate if the sheet is hanging on a line or pulled tight around a tree?
The same applies on the other end of the gun. The reason the shooter isn't hurt is because (s)he recoiled with the gun. Periodically people get broken because they back up against something solid before they pull the trigger, then have no place to go during recoil.
One of my favorite pictures is of someone with a ducktail firing a .468 Mag. Under recoil his hair is lifting off his head like a starched wig. His feet never moved, but his body recoiled about 18". Try putting your feet together before you fire... under recoil you will step to the rear or fall down.
I recently read something about how ballistic armor fibers get shorter and fatter when hit, therefore, my statements may be true but irrelevant. Beware.
Pretty much means he (or she) is a bad @ss for owning one.
http://www.1800nametape.com/infrared.htm#INFRARED
Better to just cut to measure a known element.