A Japanese company has developed a special T-shirt that is supposed to be strong enough to protect you from a slashing knife. Apparently the need for this T-shirt comes from an increase in knife-related attacks on children and convenience store workers in Japan. The shirt is still machine washable and about three times stronger than cotton. The Nihon Uni company is responsible for developing the shirts, which come in short sleeve and long-sleeve varieties, however the cost ranges from $190 to $522 for the short sleeves and $220 to $590 if you prefer the longer sleeves to protect your forearms.
At that cost, I think you’ve passed your break-even point. Consider saving that money for your health insurance co-pay and use the rest to go drinking while you’re recovering from your knifing. Not to mention, the knife-shirt’s mesh fabric can still be punctured by a sharp point, so unless you expect your attacker to only using slashing motions, you’re pretty much fucked either way.
Check out the original story on Fareastgizmos via Gizmodo.
6 responses so far ↓
1 Mitch Martin // Mar 25, 2008 at 11:37 am
Why would you pay $500 for something that is only going to defend you against one kind of specific attack?
That is like buying a bullet proof vest that only protects against one specific bullet.
2 Mr. Wonka // Mar 25, 2008 at 4:01 pm
am I the only one that thinks a short-sleeved knife protecting shirt is about as useful as a solar powered flashlight?
aren’t most of your wounds going to be defensive ones on your arms? I mean who’s going to trust this shirt enough to see a knife wielding asshole, and just thrust their chest out?
3 someone // Mar 26, 2008 at 7:28 am
“Why would you pay $500 for something that is only going to defend you against one kind of specific attack?
That is like buying a bullet proof vest that only protects against one specific bullet.”
-Mitch Maritn
Exactly its geared towards rich people who are scared of convenience stores. It helps them get over their paranoia.
4 Tsurugi // Apr 1, 2008 at 12:38 pm
“The shirt is still machine washable and about three times stronger than cotton”
WTF?? Okay, ignoring the fact that it is completely flawed against STABBING, the main use of a double edged knife anyways… Anyone ever taken a Sharp curved knife to cotton? It’s about as resistant as say… paper to kid-safe scissors…
I realize the designers had good intentions, and aren’t expecting someone going in their with a full length katana to attack the store clerk and expect the guy to come out unscathed, but 3x cotton… Denim? Maybe even a leather Jacket? I can get a Solid leather jacket for 100-290 US. (Still cheaper, and with full sleeves..)
And if i want to, i can sew in small steel plates and feel all special and protecting in those specific areas from STAB wounds… That thing in the picture, looks like some kind of half-assed anime armor that MIGHT protect you from the plastic knives from Wendy’s! Maybe…
V_V Why not skip whatever pre-made polymer crap you are using (At that price) add on another hundred or so, use carbon nano-tubules, and say it makes you Fucking Superman!
5 Nice // Apr 1, 2008 at 8:47 pm
Tsurugi, I was wondering if you could further elaborate, I don’t get what you are saying?
6 Hardcore Bulletproof Hoodie // Apr 4, 2008 at 12:00 pm
[…] week we had a post about a shirt that would be great for knife fights. Now, we have the perfect outer layer for that outfit. The bulletproof […]
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