Generally the service life, assuming worn every day, is five years. The enemy of most soft body armor, particularly the units made principally of Spectra, is moisture. Some Spectra vests were found to be compromised by sweat after a year or two of regular wear.
While most soft armor would probably be okay at > 5 years of everyday use, if you are someone who bets your life on it every day, it's peace of mind to replace on / around the manufacturer's recommendation.
If the vest has not been worn more than a few times and has been stored correctly, it is more than likely just fine. I still have a Safariland vest I wore every day back in the early 90s. It's been stored since I replaced it. It probably is still effective, but I wouldn't bet my life on it.
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-- Rifle, Pistol, Shotgun
Not a lawyer, just a former LEO proud to have served.
Quote:
Americans have the right and advantage of being armed - unlike the citizens of other countries whose governments are afraid to trust the people with arms. -- James Madison
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