[TML] Personal Armor Noise was Re: Current USAF fleet

[shadow at shadowgard.com]

On 1 May 2008 at 22:25, Tom B wrote:

> >  > 1) Hard to get into on your own (there is a lesson for combat armour
> >  > and battle dress lurking herein)
> >
> >  Not that bad. And there are tricks to make it easier.
> 
> I would not be trying to get into it while someone was stabbing me.
> It's not that quick. It's quicker than the multi-part armours you have
> to don, but it still takes a goodly wiggle to get in. And while you're
> wiggling, someone could do just about anything to you.

If someone is already attacking, you waited too long to gear up. :-)
 
> >  > 2) Be bald or else have a cloth cap. The links grab and pull out hair. Ouch.
> >
> >  The "arming cap" is usually part of the padding that goes on under
> >  the mail.
> 
> Yes, but it isn't just an optional accessory! :0)

Neither is the arming coat. The mail makes it harder to cut you, and 
the sheer mass helps absorb the blows (as was learned the hard way 
when some SCA folks tried aluminum and titanium). But without padded, 
you'll get broken bones.
 
> >  > 3) The weight sits on the shoulders (40 lbs on the shoulders....
> >  > argh). You can do some neat tricks though, like gather up a 'chainmail
> >  > potbelly' and then tighten a wide belt around your waist which the
> >  > potbelly overhangs. This helps distribute some portion of the weight
> >  > to the hips.
> >
> >  I found it much easier to deal with than a much lighter pack.
> 
> Whereas I've carried 40 pound backpacks and found them easier to bear
> than the chainmail. After five to ten minutes, my shoulders were
> aching. The packs, for whatever reason, didn't seem to feel the same
> pressure along the tops of the shoulders. YMMV (and apparently does).
> I'd take my old backpack (or one of the even better newer ones) over
> the chainmail at any point.
> 
> On the other hand, with proper underpadding, I'll bet it makes a fair
> mockery of many bludgeoning weapons and most slashing weapons.

Well, I've often thought that if the stuff of a practical guage (as 
opposed to the stuff for butchers gloves and shark suits) could be 
made on a machine, it'd be a useful item to wear over the kevlar for 
folks like cops who have to worry as much about knives as guns.

--
Leonard Erickson (aka shadow)
shadow at shadowgard dot com