The Archduke and the Bullet-Proof Vest: 19th-Century Innovation Versus 20th-Century Firepower

Abstract

To substantiate or otherwise the historical rumours that claim that the Archduke Franz Ferdinand failed to wear a piece of silk bullet-proof body armour on the day of his assassination, 28 June 1914, the likelihood of the Archduke possessing this invention is assessed and its composition and design is considered. The capabilities of such armours, the brainchild of priest-turned-inventor Casimir Zeglen, against the FN Browning Model 1910, in .380 ACP, the same model of self-loading pistol used to assassinate Franz Ferdinand, were tested.