Wearable Technology
Slash-Resistant Clothing Protects Taxi Drivers From Violent Knife Attacks
by Bridgette Meinhold, 11/29/11

http://i.imgur.com/7apzB.jpg

Following a spate of violent knife attacks on taxi drivers in the United Kingdom, United States, and Australia, protective-apparel firm PPSS Group has developed a range of slash-resistant clothing designed to protect cabbies from hostile or intoxicated fares. The sweatshirts, windbreakers, sleeves, and gloves all comprise Cut-Tex Pro, a proprietary high-density polyethylene that shields the four major arteries against lacerations and subsequent blood loss.

THE BEST OFFENSE

Preventative technologies like closed-circuit cameras aren’t often enough to deter potential aggressors, says Robert Kaiser, CEO of PPSS Group. “Some aggressive members of the public either don’t care about the potential repercussion following an assault or they are simply so intoxicated they just don’t get it any more,” he writes on the company’s blog. “This is why we need an additional ‘safety net’; something that protects us if all the CCTV systems in the world and all the best communication skills and our great personality have failed to stop such attack.”

The material is also 100 percent concealable, blending in with regular clothing to deflect attention.

The machine-washable material is also 100 percent concealable, blending in with regular clothing so it doesn’t attract attention. Because Cut-Tex Pro can hold its own against utility knives, razor blades, and even broken glass, it’s ideal for professions such as law enforcement, emergency services, private security, and public transport, as well as industries that involve glass or metal.

http://www.ecouterre.com/slash-resistant-clothing-protects-taxi-drivers-from-violent-knife-attacks/

Stylish. You guys think this would be good for the paranoid and the people in risky positions?

http://www.ppss-group.com/slash_resistant_clothing_for_taxi_drivers.html

I wonder if it is puncture resistant? It could be good for hiking through sharp desert scrub.

If it's not super expensive and its comfortable, I'd absolutely like to get some knife resistant clothes. My main hobbies in life are hiking, skateboarding and FMA, and I think that could be useful in avoiding the sharp edges of all 3. This is before getting into tacticool fantasies where street punks are trying to cut me (they should make a turtleneck to protect from zombies and vampires).

Maybe some of these clothes would make grappling less likely to scrape the joints open on concrete and whatnot.

From wikipedia:
The tests are done with an edge that is loaded with weight and drawn across the fabric. 27.8 Newtons, the number they're so happy about, is not very much force at all. Something on the order of 7 pounds.

Puncture Resistance
Cut-Tex PRO does not offer puncture resistance, as it is a knitted fabric. However Cut-Tex PRO is commonly used for cut resistant gloves, and during the manufacturing process of cut resistant gloves additional materials are used to offer BS EN ISO 388:2003 Puncture Resistance Level 4 - the highest possible.

For now, let's just say I'm highly skeptical.

I've taken a knife to those handy dandy industrial kevlar sleeves wrapped around a chunk of really nasty tasting summer sausage and had it go through with no appreciable resistance. I had a few strands of fabric folded over the knife edge, but that was all it showed for slowing the blade. Those are rated at a cut resistance of 3, which is 5 newtons. Granted, these are rated at 27.8 newtons, but I don't see that an additional 5 and change pounds of resistance will help much. I can't see a situation where a motivated attacker in reasonable shape (like not infirm) would be unable to generate well over the required amount of force. The video on their site looked pretty good, but I want to see that knife whipping across the guy's stomach before I'd trust this product with my life.

It does need to be said that we don't know how sharp the test blade is for ISO 13997:1999. Against a fairly blunt knife it'll probably offer some decent protection, but if someone keeps their knives sharp I think all these shirts will do is make it harder for the paramedics to cut it off to get at your wounds.

Thing is, I don't think they'll be cheap and I certainly don't want to pay for one and then cut it up.

This was reasonably impressive


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yeurz_gf3G8

I'd think it would have more applications for outdoor sports and industry than for self-defence.

Dear All
Please be assured that 27.8 Newton of cut resistance is exceptional. Right now Cut-Tex PRO offers the highest level of cut resistance of any textile/fabric available.
You will not be able to cut the fabric with a Stanley/carpet knife, so I think it is fair to say that it certainly will increase your chance of coming home safely when being slashed by an idiot carrying a kitchen knife or similar edged weapon.
Our cut resistant garments are worn by police, prison, mental health care and other frontline professionals... and there is a good reason why.
Take good care.
Robert


From wikipedia:
The tests are done with an edge that is loaded with weight and drawn across the fabric. 27.8 Newtons, the number they're so happy about, is not very much force at all. Something on the order of 7 pounds.

Puncture Resistance
Cut-Tex PRO does not offer puncture resistance, as it is a knitted fabric. However Cut-Tex PRO is commonly used for cut resistant gloves, and during the manufacturing process of cut resistant gloves additional materials are used to offer BS EN ISO 388:2003 Puncture Resistance Level 4 - the highest possible.

It may afford some protection in risky situations, but it's not a magic bullet. I would not trust my life to this, alone.

I think the key, here, is that their marketing calls it "slash resistant," not knife-proof. They have a completely different line of clothing which is "stab vests." That alone should answer any questions about how this clothing should be used.

I have always liked the Idea. But have never bitten the bullet and got one. Personally I would be happy with a bit of slash proofiness for things like bottles. More than rambo killers.

Would help with the lava and aids needles on the street too.

I would need sleeves though.

Dear All
Please be assured that 27.8 Newton of cut resistance is exceptional. Right now Cut-Tex PRO offers the highest level of cut resistance of any textile/fabric available.
You will not be able to cut the fabric with a Stanley/carpet knife, so I think it is fair to say that it certainly will increase your chance of coming home safely when being slashed by an idiot carrying a kitchen knife or similar edged weapon.
Our cut resistant garments are worn by police, prison, mental health care and other frontline professionals... and there is a good reason why.
Take good care.
Robert

So, if I was to invest in some garment an I could slash through it, would I get my money back?

How much would the sweat shirt run to?

Dear All
Please be assured that 27.8 Newton of cut resistance is exceptional. Right now Cut-Tex PRO offers the highest level of cut resistance of any textile/fabric available.
You will not be able to cut the fabric with a Stanley/carpet knife, so I think it is fair to say that it certainly will increase your chance of coming home safely when being slashed by an idiot carrying a kitchen knife or similar edged weapon.
Our cut resistant garments are worn by police, prison, mental health care and other frontline professionals... and there is a good reason why.
Take good care.
Robert

Robert,

I'd personally like to thank you for taking time out of your day to visit here and talk about your product. In my opinion it speaks very well of you and your company. That being said, any chance we could get some more video of a determined knife attack or maybe even a small piece of the fabric so we can test it ourselves?

I am actually very interested in this! I had heard that some things like this were being experimented with but I never did follow through on looking for prototypes. 7 pounds worth of resistance to laceration doesn't sound like much, but I would certainly be willing to give it the benefit of the doubt until it can be tested by an outside party--after all, has anybody really measured the pressure exerted by a knife slash? With a short blade I actually wouldn't be surprised if it might just fall into that 7 pound range because there just isn't that much mass behind the cutting edge. I could be wrong, though. That said, I have a plethora of blades that are razor sharp and would absolutely be willing to test this out.

The tests are done with an edge that is loaded with weight and drawn across the fabric. 27.8 Newtons, the number they're so happy about, is not very much force at all. Something on the order of 7 pounds.

From wikipedia:
Puncture Resistance
Cut-Tex PRO does not offer puncture resistance, as it is a knitted fabric. However Cut-Tex PRO is commonly used for cut resistant gloves, and during the manufacturing process of cut resistant gloves additional materials are used to offer BS EN ISO 388:2003 Puncture Resistance Level 4 - the highest possible.

Just noticed an error in my earlier post on this. It should read as above. My mouth noises are not wikipedia.

Maybe do some hanging-meat-wrapped-in-fabric power cuts, a la Cold Steel?

I was hoping for something along those lines. Dunno about 'power cuts' though. I just want to know that a reasonable amount of force is used and that the knife involved is sharp.

I think that this wouldn't be too effective in an altercation, as even in the video linked by Judoka the tester guy simply held the blade up to the clothing and dragged it down, rather than putting his arm into it the way a real assailant would.