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Posted: 7/15/2008 3:01:19 PM EDT
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I recently picked up two armor plates locally at an army surplus store. This is a kind of hole in the wall place that has some stuff way overpriced and some other stuff way underpriced. A lot of times they seem like they don't know the value of what they have. Here is what i picked up. I will post pics later but here is what the label says: MFR:ceradyne, inc Contract Number: (then some numbers with a barcode) Lot number: (some numbers) MD: 02 2004 SN: (some numbers with a barcode) Design: Defender UG III Size: Medium NSN: (numbers with barcode) These plates seem to be in brand new condition but I don't know for sure. They seem solid without any movement but I don't know for sure how to check that to be sure. Here is the link to what they are: www.brothersinarmor.com/Hard_Plate_Armor.html (they are the second plate down called defender). From the limited information on the internet about these, I have gathered that these are the "discount" line that ceradyne sells to civilians but that they are approved by the military to be used or purchased by soldiers. I could be totally wrong about this so please correct me if I am wrong. What do you think is the value of these plates? The only site I could find them for sale on was linked above and is selling them for about $700 each. Make some guesses as to how much I got these for and I'll be back later to post pics and reveal how much I paid for them. You're not going to believe it 
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Let's see: Plate with a contract number, and an NSN, and you got these stupid cheap from a 'surplus store." Yeah, I am sure they're legit. Especially since body armor that was issued by the military is supposed to all be demilled. I vote stolen. |
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This stuff was never issued to the military according to the manufacture's website and other sites. It just meets military SAPI specs www.ceradyne.com/products/armor/body-armor-plates.aspx " For lower cost NIJ level III and IV protection, the DEFENDER® line of commercial (my bolding) armor offers the best value choice." Defender is the line of body armor that mine is. See the label I typed out on the first post. www.shadowenterprises.net/detail.aspx?ID=284 |
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I searched on ebay and found 3 sets of ceradyne SAPI plates for sale. I don't know if this helps at all but I'm just trying to provide the most information possible. shop.ebay.com/?_from=R40&_trksid=m38&_nkw=ceradyne&_sacat=See-All-Categories |
Congrats, the only thing more foolish than buying goverment proprety is posting it on a public forum and bragging about the purchase price!  [ETA} They are worth several years in the federal pen. At the very least you can get a visit from the feds who will confiscate the plates and want info on where you got them. Yes, it has happened to more than one guy who posted here about buying questionable plates. Plates bought on Ebay also typically get tracked down. |
OK, so Ceradyne calls it commercial. However, your plate has both a contract number and an NSN (National Stocking Number...a military part number / reference for ordering through military supply channels). None of the commercial plates I sell have either of those. It might be a "commercial" plate, but the label and the information on it have all the hallmarks of military property. Add to that the fact you got them stupid cheap makes for a "if it sounds too good to be true, it probably is" scenario. |
True. But ACOGS don't have contract numbers on them. They could very well be contract overruns, but with all that's "there", he either got a VERY good deal, or he got a very raw deal. I am hoping for good. |
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