One of the most famous rumors about bulletproof vests is the "rib-breaking theory." The idea is that even if you wear a bulletproof vest and get hit by a bullet, while the bullet doesn't penetrate the vest, the tremendous impact of the bullet hitting the chest can still result in rib fractures. This rumor essentially propagates the idea that bulletproof vests are useless.
Due to its specialized nature as defensive equipment, bulletproof vests in China are not subject to strict control by relevant authorities, making them one of the few pieces of equipment that can be legally owned by individuals. In theory, compared to equipment that is out of reach for ordinary people, bulletproof vests, which can be obtained, should be better understood by military enthusiasts. However, reality is quite the opposite, as bulletproof vests have become a hotspot for rumors.
One of the most famous rumors about bulletproof vests is the "rib-breaking theory." The idea is that even if you wear a bulletproof vest and get hit by a bullet, while the bullet doesn't penetrate the vest, the tremendous impact of the bullet hitting the chest can still result in rib fractures. This rumor essentially propagates the idea that bulletproof vests are useless. The rumor often cites an example claiming that a U.S. soldier in Iraq, wearing a bulletproof vest, was hit by a bullet, resulting in rib fractures, with broken ribs puncturing the heart and causing the soldier's death.
The bulletproof vest equipped with a ballistic plate is noteworthy. It's important to note that the ballistic plate does not provide protection for the entire body; it only protects vital areas such as the chest and lungs. If a bullet happens to hit an area without the protective plate, then one has to rely on their luck for protection.
Without the addition of ballistic plates, the protective capabilities of soft body armor are indeed limited. It can only provide defense against ordinary lead-core or hollow-point/soft-point handgun bullets. If faced with rifle bullets or high-powered handgun bullets (such as .44 Magnum), there is a high probability that the soft body armor will be penetrated directly.
To debunk this rumor, it's essential to understand the protective levels of bulletproof vests. Bulletproof vests are not designed to protect against all types of bullets but are categorized based on the requirements for defending against different bullet velocities. Bulletproof vests can be divided into two components. The first part is the soft body armor, made from high-strength fibers such as Kevlar, providing basic bullet resistance. To achieve higher levels of protection, the second part comes into play, namely ballistic plates. These plates, often made of ballistic ceramics or, for cost considerations, steel, can be inserted into the soft body armor. By incorporating different types of ballistic plates into various soft body armor configurations, different levels of protection can be achieved.
In addition to the "Bulletproof Vest is Useless Theory" and the "Bulletproof Vest is Invincible Theory," there is another widely circulated rumor that "Bulletproof vests do not protect against knives or arrows." This viewpoint, in certain circumstances, is not entirely wrong, but stating it absolutely would be incorrect.
As mentioned earlier, a complete bulletproof vest is composed of both soft body armor and ballistic plates. Soft body armor, made from high-strength fibers, can function as a bulletproof vest even without the plates, offering basic bullet resistance. However, its basic defensive capability is relatively weak, only able to defend against low-energy, low-penetrating handgun bullets.
Due to being woven from fibers, there are gaps between the fibers that can allow a knife blade to penetrate. Moreover, soft body armor is primarily designed to withstand the impact force of bullets. The penetration of a knife into soft body armor relies on a shearing principle, which is fundamentally different from the principles of bullets and stab attacks. Therefore, it's true that soft body armor cannot effectively protect against knife stabs. This conclusion is limited to soft body armor only.
However, if ballistic plates are added to soft body armor, the situation changes drastically. Whether made of ballistic ceramics or armored steel, these high-hardness materials offer excellent protection against knife attacks. Even legendary swords, like the mythical Gan Jiang and Mo Ye, would be unable to pierce the ballistic plates of a bulletproof vest.