Any interest in "bulletproof" inserts for backpacks?

[shawmcbigdis]

So I was reading some articles on school shootings recently, and decided to put some kevlar in my kids backpacks, just for cheap easy protection in case things got really bad.

In researching the best way to do this, I found it was pretty easy to buy Kevlar inserts and just drop in or sew, or velcro them into the backpack. But soft armor has pretty big backspace deformation. And since I am talking elementary school age kids, I figured 40mm of blunt force penetration could probably be pretty fatal.

So I ended up talking to an armor manufacture about a hybrid solution, with Kevlar and a hard but thin ballistic panel to protect from the blunt force trauma. So I am making a couple for my kids, and one for myself, and I've had some people show some interest in it, so I figured I'd ask and see if there was enough interest to try and market these things on a small scale (IE, putting them together in my office, and selling them on here and maybe eBay) The actual armor parts will not be made by me, I will just be combining the hard and soft panels and putting them together in a nice colored nylon covers with velcro on them.

I have found a few companies out there selling similar products already, but none seem to have the combination of fairly light weight (I say fairly since there is a thin hard panel which weighs a bit more than a couple ounces of Kevlar), NIJ Level IIIA + (the Kevlar alone will be IIIA, so with the addition of the hard plate it will be beyond that, but not into Level III or IV rifle territory, but shouldn't have a problem with 50AE or other exotic handgun ammo, and possibly protect against small carbine's also), stab proof, and most importantly near zero backspace penetration. Multiple and custom sizes will be available.

I've already got a few hundred bucks into this just setting up some tests for myself. If there is any interest in these I will setup and film some tests of some small panels displaying the performance, including the backspace protection.

So you know a 10x12 panel (which will fit most small backpacks) will be about 2.5 pounds, less than half an inch thick, available in multiple colors (to match the inside of the backpack), and would cost probably $199.

Let me know what you guys think.

Thanks

[CSACANNONEER]

A couple of text books will stop almost any bullet too.

[amtz.zero]

A couple of text books will stop almost any bullet too.

I have a bb gun that shot halfway through a phone book.

[shawmcbigdis]

A couple of text books will stop almost any bullet too.

That's very true, and that very fact was stated in the article that got me thinking about this.

However small kids rarely have a bullet stopping amount of books in their backpacks, and these would just simply always be there, and cover more area than the books would.

I fully agree that you have to have a certain amount of paranoia to even consider something like this. But the world we currently live in, has drove me to that certain point of paranoia, and $200 seems a small price to pay for something that may save my kids life (however unlikely it is that it will ever be needed).

[Cuda440]

Will they handle multiple shots from a 338 LM?

[CSACANNONEER]

That's very true, and that very fact was stated in the article that got me thinking about this.

However small kids rarely have a bullet stopping amount of books in their backpacks, and these would just simply always be there, and cover more area than the books would.

I fully agree that you have to have a certain amount of paranoia to even consider something like this. But the world we currently live in, has drove me to that certain point of paranoia, and $200 seems a small price to pay for something that may save my kids life (however unlikely it is that it will ever be needed).

By the time I started carrying a backpack to school, I always had it full of books. $200 would be better invested in wrapping a kid in reflective tape so he/she doesn't get hit by a car. School shootings don't even make the list of top reasons children die every year. A 10"x12" plate inside a backpack isn't going to do any good unless the child is actually wearing the backpack. Kids do not typically wear their packs in class or during grade school. Even with a balistic pack on, a shot from the front, to the head or extremities can be as fatal as a shot in the back. Your time, energy and funds would be better focused on a more likely catastrophic event. Maybe, they should wear helmets in case of an earthquake?

[shawmcbigdis]

Will they handle multiple shots from a 338 LM?

Hopefully you wouldn't believe me if I said yes (not that I would say that, because it sure as heck won't, it would be interesting to see if we could stack enough layers to stop it though. Not sure a 2nd grader would be able to carry that backpack though).

But if you have one, I will gladly invite you to one of my test sessions, just so I can shoot it

[CSACANNONEER]

Hopefully you wouldn't believe me if I said yes (not that I would say that, because it sure as heck won't, it would be interesting to see if we could stack enough layers to stop it though. Not sure a 2nd grader would be able to carry that backpack though).

But if you have one, I will gladly invite you to one of my test sessions, just so I can shoot it

We will be shooting a 1000 yard 50BMG match this weekend, If you have a sample and want to test it, I can load some APs up.

[sfr292]

In order to have a hard plate, it's classified as registered protection device, that's Federal, not just California. as good as the idea would be, the legalities behind it would be a nightmare. The other problem that needs to be addressed is the splatter catch, some armor can cause more harm than good with the splatter, this I know first hand as I caught splatter in my neck from a shoulder plate hit. Good idea, but personally I don't think it will fly.

[Ubermcoupe]

These guys already do something similar:

http://www.bulletblocker.com/

It’s a novel idea and one that I seriously considered while spending time on large college/university campuses. For the price I have seen some of the inserts though I was more content in buying a vest + carrier.

[shawmcbigdis]

In order to have a hard plate, it's classified as registered protection device, that's Federal, not just California. as good as the idea would be, the legalities behind it would be a nightmare. The other problem that needs to be addressed is the splatter catch, some armor can cause more harm than good with the splatter, this I know first hand as I caught splatter in my neck from a shoulder plate hit. Good idea, but personally I don't think it will fly.

As for the splatter issue, besides being inside a backpack, which would catch some splatter, the plate itself is a fiberglass composite, so it doesn't shatter the bullet, but catch it, and there is a kevlar panel in front of it to catch any splatter that did somehow happen.

As for the "registered protection device", could you elaborate on this some more? I've never heard anything about this (not that I'm an expert). You can buy level III and IV panels on eBay all day long, how is that legal if they need to be federally registered?

[shawmcbigdis]

These guys already do something similar:

http://www.bulletblocker.com/

Yes, that is one of the companies I found already making something similar. Like I said, what I am thinking of making is slightly different, in that it provides stab protection, and near zero backspace penetration, which again, for kids, can be a big deal.

[sfr292]

It's required for true hard plate, the law was meant to lesson the chance of another N.Hollywood scenario, the plates are legal to own, however owning the plates, with the vest, is not. I learned of it when I worked for PM Solider (I'm a government contractor with accelerated capabilities).

[shawmcbigdis]

It's required for true hard plate, the law was meant to lesson the chance of another N.Hollywood scenario, the plates are legal to own, however owning the plates, with the vest, is not. I learned of it when I worked for PM Solider (I'm a government contractor with accelerated capabilities).

So does that mean only Level III and IV type stuff then, so it wouldn't apply to this? Or any hard armor, inn conjunction with soft armor? Thanks for the info

[Steve G]

I see a huge liability issue