Body Armour - where in Ireland to get it?

connundrum

Hi, apologies if this is in the wrong forum, but its the closest one to the subject I could find.

I've been working as door security for a couple of years now and until recently I saw no need for any protection other than my trusty radio.

Now I can see a bit of a turn and would like to get kitted out with a decent stab vest. I've done the e-bay and google thing, and whats coming back are prices ranging anywhere from €250 - €1000 +. I guess the more you pay the better you're protected but some of the vests are just too bulky and would probably be surplus to requirement.

I need a vest I can wear under a suit jacket, something that has front, side and back plates, something that is relatively light and not uncomfortable. Is that asking too much or will I just have to settle for whats on the market?

Any help/advice would be welcome.

ex_infantry man

connundrum wrote:

Hi, apologies if this is in the wrong forum, but its the closest one to the subject I could find.

I've been working as door security for a couple of years now and until recently I saw no need for any protection other than my trusty radio.

Now I can see a bit of a turn and would like to get kitted out with a decent stab vest. I've done the e-bay and google thing, and whats coming back are prices ranging anywhere from €250 - €1000 +. I guess the more you pay the better you're protected but some of the vests are just too bulky and would probably be surplus to requirement.

I need a vest I can wear under a suit jacket, something that has front, side and back plates, something that is relatively light and not uncomfortable. Is that asking too much or will I just have to settle for whats on the market?

Any help/advice would be welcome.

there is a huge army surplus warehouse in ballinacurra,midleton co cork you could try there

Manic Moran

I guess the first question is 'is it legal for private citizens to own body armour in your neck of the woods?'

It's not such a daft question: I can own all sorts of weaponry here, but body armour is a no-no. Basically, the police want to be able to shoot you. (Though if they need to shoot you, you probably don't care body armour is illegal here).

If so, there are plenty of companies who sell such in the US, but they may well qualify as armaments and fall subject to export restrictions and paperwork.

NTM

cushtac

There is no legislation prohibiting the ownership or wearing of body armour.

Captain Chaos

Sure, with the ERU getting the MP7, body armour will be feck all use, the gardi can still shoot you if need be.;)

I wonder if you can pick up the stab vests that the gardi are issued with or would they be any use at all as they seem to have limited body coverage.

cushtac

Captain Chaos wrote:

I wonder if you can pick up the stab vests that the gardi are issued with or would they be any use at all as they seem to have limited body coverage.

The Garda vests are made by Sioen Industries AFAIK. I don't think they produce stuff for the retail market. The vests are rated by the UK Home Office's Police Scientific Development Branch as HG1/A & KR1.

The body coverage is fine once the wearer has the correct size. I believe there was initially an issue with size availability, but most of the Gardaí I see now have properly fitted vests.

cushtac

I was wrong about the Garda vest manufacturer. Sioen have recently supplied the Airport Police with their vests and might have supplied the Gardaí with vests in the past, but the current vest on issue to the Gardaí is made by Mehler Vario Systems. The protection ratings are still the same.

bullets

cushtac wrote:

The body coverage is fine once the wearer has the correct size. I believe there was initially an issue with size availability, but most of the Gardaí I see now have properly fitted vests.

They look rubbish though. Most of the Gardai I see walking round
the place where I live have vests that look as though they are not
covering enough. They seem to be all different sizes.
I see rather Large male/female gardai and the vests they have on
barely cover their nipples and they have a huge gut/belly
hanging/bulging out that is exposed They look way too tiny.
I also see the reverse where a tiny skinny person wears a sagging huge
vest.

They "look" very flimsy. Better than nothing but I would not trust one.
Would prefer to see something that protected the entire chest
(and belly) area.

I could be completely wrong as I know little about stab vests
but I am only going by pure Looks alone while looking at Gardai.

PS.....Anyone Know if the MP7's are actually in use yet?????

~B

cushtac

bullets wrote:

They look rubbish though. Most of the Gardai I see walking round the place where I live have vests that look as though they are not
covering enough. They seem to be all different sizes.
I see rather Large male/female gardai and the vests they have on
barely cover their nipples and they have a huge gut/belly
hanging/bulging out that is exposed They look way too tiny.
I also see the reverse where a tiny skinny person wears a sagging huge
vest.

As I said, there was an issue with size availability which meant Gardaí were drawing vests too small for them. There could also have been problems with people drawing the wrong sizes.

bullets wrote:

They "look" very flimsy. Better than nothing but I would not trust one.
Would prefer to see something that protected the entire chest
(and belly) area.

The vests are perfectly trustworthy. They carry an industry standard that involves them meeting rigorous tests and are made by a reputable firm. The panels provide the same amount of coverage as any other, if they look too small on a wearer it's down to them wearing a small size.

bullets wrote:

I could be completely wrong as I know little about stab vests

They're bullet resistant too.

bullets wrote:

PS.....Anyone Know if the MP7's are actually in use yet?????

They're not in use yet, but they're in stores.

Dyr

Most armour since the middle ages has the same weakness to sharp things, the neck, armpits and waist have to be exposed to provide mobility. There's no good place to be stabbed reallythose three areas would majorly suck :eek:

ex_infantry man

Bambi wrote:

Most armour since the middle ages has the same weakness to sharp things, the neck, armpits and waist have to be exposed to provide mobility. There's no good place to be stabbed reallythose three areas would majorly suck :eek:

well to be honest i was trained unarmed combat in the army and i agree with ya a stab to any of those area,s would suck and would be fatal, a little tip we were told was to put oil on your blade and when you stab your enemy twist the knife in a half circle and pull it out and he/she will have a hole that won,t close which in turn leaves to a bleed out! unless!! that is you have a tampon to hand! i know yes your saying a "TAMPON" well the tampon will swell stopping the blood temporarly until you can get to the nearest M.A.P.

Hard Larry

ex_infantry man wrote:

well to be honest i was trained unarmed combat in the army and i agree with ya a stab to any of those area,s would suck and would be fatal, a little tip we were told was to put oil on your blade and when you stab your enemy twist the knife in a half circle and pull it out and he/she will have a hole that won,t close which in turn leaves to a bleed out! unless!! that is you have a tampon to hand! i know yes your saying a "TAMPON" well the tampon will swell stopping the blood temporarly until you can get to the nearest M.A.P.

Would an Always Ultra (with wings) do the trick or will I have to go shopping again?

Clare gunner

I've been working as door security for a couple of years now and until recently I saw no need for any protection other than my trusty radio.

Now I can see a bit of a turn and would like to get kitted out with a decent stab vest. I've done the e-bay and google thing, and whats coming back are prices ranging anywhere from €250 - €1000 +. I guess the more you pay the better you're protected but some of the vests are just too bulky and would probably be surplus to requirement.

How much value do you put on your life??Buying a second hand body armour is like buying a surplus parachute!Might or might not work.Ditto if you have il fitting body armour,you WILL be uncomfortable,and therfore a good chance of leaving it off the nite somone does decide to take a poke/shot at you.
If I had to ,I wouldnt hesitate in paying up to 1000 plus for a proper vest.It's my ass[and body] I am protecting.:)

I need a vest I can wear under a suit jacket, something that has front, side and back plates, something that is relatively light and not uncomfortable. Is that asking too much or will I just have to settle for whats on the marke

t?

It's kind of a juxtaposition somthing comfortable and well protecting.
From what you describe you need like a suit vest from a 3 piece suit.They are available but pricey.Would suggest you contact people like Second chance armour,or some of the US companies to give you an idea of costs and styles.

Hope this helps.

uglyjohn

ex_infantry man wrote:

well to be honest i was trained unarmed combat in the army and i agree with ya a stab to any of those area,s would suck and would be fatal, a little tip we were told was to put oil on your blade and when you stab your enemy twist the knife in a half circle and pull it out and he/she will have a hole that won,t close which in turn leaves to a bleed out! unless!! that is you have a tampon to hand! i know yes your saying a "TAMPON" well the tampon will swell stopping the blood temporarly until you can get to the nearest M.A.P.

should you really be telling people on a public forum how best to kill someone (eg a guard) with a knife? personally i dont think the op started the thread so you could tell people how to beat his nice shiny new body armour and kill him.
ok, you were in the army and are trained to kill, but should you really be passing that knowledge on to any scumbag who can read?

Dyr

This kind of stuff is already well and truly in the public domain. There's plenty of knife related material available on the old interweb.

uglyjohn

i suppose....maybe i was a bit overzealous..... but i had just looked at a thread complaining about the massive increase in stabbings and another about why there couldnt be a legal highs forum because boards didnt want to encourage people to dabble in such things and then get blamed by the parents.

Flying

Captain Chaos wrote:

Sure, with the ERU getting the MP7, body armour will be feck all use, the gardi can still shoot you if need be.;)

I wonder if you can pick up the stab vests that the gardi are issued with or would they be any use at all as they seem to have limited body coverage.

Depends on the Armour if your wearing MKIV with Ballistic Plates (Not Inserts) It can stop a 7.62mm

Flying

ex_infantry man wrote:

well to be honest i was trained unarmed combat in the army and i agree with ya a stab to any of those area,s would suck and would be fatal, a little tip we were told was to put oil on your blade and when you stab your enemy twist the knife in a half circle and pull it out and he/she will have a hole that won,t close which in turn leaves to a bleed out! unless!! that is you have a tampon to hand! i know yes your saying a "TAMPON" well the tampon will swell stopping the blood temporarly until you can get to the nearest M.A.P.

Could you please stop talking out of your ar5e you sound like a walter mitty.

I spent 9 years in a real army and trained in unarmed combat and was also thought how to use stabbing weapons and the above is crap out of a bruce willis movie, pull the other one and dont discuss crap like that here as it will get this site and this section a bad name.

windy bee

If you're looking for a stab vest , you could try http://blackarmor.com/Vest/Ultima1.htm but expect to pay €500 for lllA protection. Why anybody would need a stab vest (if you're not a bouncer) I dont know because sods law will have you stabbed in the neck/face.

Flying

Also Consider Kevlar Gloves for the likes of needles etc and prevention of wounds to the hands. Got a pair a few years ago and are an essential for door work and are not to noticeable aswell.

Tabnabs

http://www.jamesboylan.com/html/specialist.html

They do the type of gear you're after. We get standard work related safety gear from them and their catalogue is fairly comprehensive.

Traumadoc

Bambi wrote:

Most armour since the middle ages has the same weakness to sharp things, the neck, armpits and waist have to be exposed to provide mobility. There's no good place to be stabbed reallythose three areas would majorly suck :eek:

Stabbing is rarely instantly fatal- unless there is a direct cardiac injury or injury to a major vessel - you often hear of people being stabbed to death having 40 + stabwounds - because it takes that many to "put them down"

connundrum

As an update, work have decided to let us buy them through the company - therefore escaping the aul VAT.

I think the deal is working out as €380 for KR2 and SP2 plates with a covert carrier. I don't mind the price as once the vest remains unscathed (please God), I should be able to get a resale value of +/- €300.