Surplus Irish Body Armour?

harbl_the_cat

harbl_the_cat

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Do you have any additional information about the body armor listed on your website here:

http://www.frontierfirearms.ca/index.php?main_page=index&cPath=556

For example, is the surplus level 4, NIJ level 4? Does it come with hard plates or is it soft panel? If they are soft, are the panels removable? What kind of usage did this armor have/who was the original user (i.e. LEO, military, civilian)? Do they offer any side coverage, or are they frontal only?

Thanks!
 
harbl_the_cat said:
Sweet - do you have a set?
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Yes, mine don't really smell bad. They were used for serious business back in the day. You have to guess about the fit. Not that I really have much use for it, just a "becase I can" souvenir of the old country. Good for the money.
I remember the solid steel "Bristol Armour" they issued around 1970, and the codpieces.
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Mine doesn't smell either, although it was issued, the name is still written on the inside.
 
So the level 4's are steel or ceramic plates? Are they a combination hard plate/soft panel or just a hard level 4 plate?
 
It's a Ceramic plate with IIIA soft body armor (acording to Frontier)

I bought a set and yes, you can cut the panels out, then cut the plates and soft armor out as well.

I cut mine out because I wanted to inspect the plates for impact damage. The plates themselves are glued to the soft armor, so I put them back into the nylon panels and stuffed them into a Condor plate carrier. The plates themselves are very large and the front has "operator cuts" but just barely. It will prevent you from getting a "proper" isosceles stance/grip when using a pistol but nothing that is unmanageable. The back plate is a large rectangle with a "hump" in the middle for what I guess would be your spine when you sit down.

Mine was issued and did not smell, but it did have what appeared to be coffee spilled on the front if it.

Quite happy with the purchase I might add!

I'd definitely recommend anyone wanting to get started in Body armor to look here. Once I save up for polymer plates, I will likely replace the ceramic ones.
 
I had a video up of it but took it down and deleted any trace of it.....BA illegal in my province now.

I can tell you it did not stink, was not faded, weight about 26lbs, was large enough to fit a 6 foot 2 240lb guy, and the plates did NOT come out.

Thats what I bought anyway.

A good deal imo. with the 2 plates.

It did have a cop's initials on the inside....imo adds character to the vest and unless you are putting it on you'd never know it was there.
 
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CanadianReich said:
I had a video up of it but took it down and deleted any trace of it.....BA illegal in my province now.

I can tell you it did not stink, was not faded, weight about 26lbs, was large enough to fit a 6 foot 2 240lb guy, and the plates did NOT come out.

Thats what I bought anyway.

A good deal imo. with the 2 plates.
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anything with come out, if you use a razor.
I bought two for disection.
You can actually cut it out of the carrier.
Inside is the softarmour glued to ceramic plate inside another cover.
If you cut them out out of that cover, then you can access the plates, and soft armour. if you use brute force, flathead and some leverage, you can cam the plate from the soft armour.

I suppose that this stuff could fit inside modern plate / armour carriers. The soft armour would have to be trimmed to BALCS template. Good luck trying to find a pair of shears that will cut through kevalr.

BUt all the sweat, not sure if its worth it.
 
nza said:
anything with come out, if you use a razor.
I bought two for disection.
You can actually cut it out of the carrier.
Inside is the softarmour glued to ceramic plate inside another cover.
If you cut them out out of that cover, then you can access the plates, and soft armour. if you use brute force, flathead and some leverage, you can cam the plate from the soft armour.

I suppose that this stuff could fit inside modern plate / armour carriers. The soft armour would have to be trimmed to BALCS template. Good luck trying to find a pair of shears that will cut through kevalr.

BUt all the sweat, not sure if its worth it.
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Carefull with the kevlar folks. cutting ,sanding, grinding! It is very bad for the lungs.I work for an airline and our maint guys won't touch it, not even sanding the kevlar ( carbon fiber) parts unless in an approved dirty room with proper vents and breathing equipment.I would recommend reading up on it first!
:canadaFlag::rockOn:
 
Thanks for the tip off! I just ordered a large and a medium(not sure which size will fit me). Once I figure out which one has the best fit, you may see the second one show up on the EE if none of my local buddies want to take it off my hands...
 
bobdbldr said:
Carefull with the kevlar folks. cutting ,sanding, grinding! It is very bad for the lungs.I work for an airline and our maint guys won't touch it, not even sanding the kevlar ( carbon fiber) parts unless in an approved dirty room with proper vents and breathing equipment.I would recommend reading up on it first!
:canadaFlag::rockOn:
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Kevlar and carbon fiber are two entirely different things. When cutting or grinding carbon fiber, beware of the fine particles. I'm not aware of any similar problem with straight kevlar fabric.
 
Dean_1911 said:
Thinking about getting one but cant really justifiy a reason except "just cause" ..
might buy one anywaaaayy ;]
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CanadianReich gives us all a good reason -- Nova Scotia has banned private possession of body armour. (I suppose they're afraid of some armour-clad lunatic breaking into a school and squashing all the kids to death.) The fact that "they", whoever "they" might be, do not want us to have it is as good a reason as any to buy it.
 
Dean_1911 said:
Thinking about getting one but cant really justifiy a reason except "just cause" ..
might buy one anywaaaayy ;]
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That's all the reason I had before placing my order:) The "just cause" reason has led to all sorts of weird stuff getting tucked away in closets, safes, and drawers.
 
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