Body Armor Timeline

Key moments in the history of body armor, from pistol-proof steel to the newest NIJ standard. For the full story, read the History of Body Armor.

1500s to 1945

Body armor timeline from the 1500s to 1945
Steel, silk and the world wars

1950s to 1999

Body armor timeline from 1951 to 1999
Nylon, Kevlar and the first NIJ standard

2000s to today

Body armor timeline from 2005 to today
Modern plates and new standards
Four eras of body armor history
Four eras at a glance
Compare today’s levels

2026: A federal court rules New York’s 2022 body armor purchase ban unconstitutional in Heeter v. James. The order is on hold while the state decides whether to appeal. See Body Armor Laws.

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