PHYSICAL DESCRIPTION: A set of body armor consisting of three pieces of 1mm manganese steel, covered in khaki canvas connected by web straps. The main chest piece, which protected the lung and heart area, is about 9 1/4" wide by 8 1/2" high and has riveted to it two web straps with blackened brass friction buckles to the top, two 6" web straps with brass ends to the bottom and two steel plates to the lower corners with slots for quick disconnect hooks for side straps. Attached to the bottom straps by two blackened brass friction buckles is an smaller rectangular piece about 9' wide by 6 3/4" high that was designed to protect the belly area. The rear piece, attached to the buckles at the top of the chest plate by "Y" shoulder straps, is in the shape of an inverted "T", about 14" wide by 9 1/2" tall, and was designed to protect the liver, base of the lungs and the spinal cord. On either side of the back piece are riveted adjustable straps that end in hooks which attach to the slotted plates to the sides of the chest plate. All three pieces have padded strips to the backs which keep the plates away from the body allowing ventilation to cut down on sweating. Hand written in red to the back of all three pieces are the numbers "1131163", a circular stamp with the text inside "B.M.B. 1944" and some other indecipherable markings. Other than moderate to heavy usage staining, a spit in the stitching to one side of the belly plate and some oxidization to the steel parts the body armor is in good condition with all its pieces intact and is very nice example of a rarely issued piece of kit.

GRADE***                             PRICE $1,190.00