$20 Level II Vest at the flea market!

**larry0071** · 05-18-09, 12:49

I could not pass this up...LOL!! I was trolling the flea market this past weekend and a guy had a vest he was asking $500 for. I started to BS with him about it and explained to him that as old as it is and not knowing its history, it was no longer a viable level II vest, it was a conversation piece and nothing more. It weighs about 20-30 lbs and seems to have steel plates in front and rear. There is a velcro strap that goes around you and velcroes in front, and the left shoulder strap is velcro. The right shoulder strap is fixed in place. No, I would not wear this thing other than for a picture! It is heavy, uncomfortable and most likely could not stop anything more than a stone or BB! But still, after talking the guy down to $20 for his antique vest... I felt I had to take it for the $20 bill!

When the SHTF, if I wear this thing you can take me on your boat and use me as a boat anchor!

**ZDL** · 05-18-09, 15:07

lol. Maybe put it behind the door panel of your car or something???

**CarlosDJackal** · 05-18-09, 17:20

For that price, I'd strap it to a bunch of soaked phone books and shoot it with a bunch of stuff just to see how well it still holds up (if any).

**tinman44** · 05-18-09, 19:42

Originally Posted by CarlosDJackal

For that price, I'd strap it to a bunch of soaked phone books and shoot it with a bunch of stuff just to see how well it still holds up (if any).

i second that

**OPPFOR** · 05-18-09, 20:24

Originally Posted by CarlosDJackal

For that price, I'd strap it to a bunch of soaked phone books and shoot it with a bunch of stuff just to see how well it still holds up (if any).

Hell of an idea! I would not be willing to try that with the more expensive stuff but for $20.

Try it and post some pics of the aftermath.

**larry0071** · 05-18-09, 20:40

You don't think it's worth keeping as a conversation piece? I wasn't really planning on destroying it. I gave it to my brother in law this evening, he is going to wear it into work for LOL.... He works at a small factory and they all think he's a nut anyways... so he figuires that this will crack them up. I'll take pictures of the printing in it and post that so you can tell me what the hell it is. Maybe it's worth keeping or selling for more than $20!!!

**kmrtnsn** · 05-18-09, 23:21

If it was manufactured between 1998 and 2005 there is a good chance this is a recalled Zylon fabric vest. Do not bet your life on it when the "SHTF" as you say. If it is used and older than 5 years old and not a Zylon vest I wouldn't wear it either; it is past its service life.

**larry0071** · 05-19-09, 06:50

I'm not sure how to interperate the words inside the thing, but I know there is a paragraph in it saying something to the effect of (in my words now...) this thing conforms to the 1978 standards to meet a Class II or Class IIa threat....blah-blah-blah.....

So does that make it a 1978 vintage, or does that make it some unknown time after 1978 vintage that meets the 1978 spec? Like I said, I'll get a picture of the words and post it so you'all can tell me what the hell it is..... besides heavy and ugly.