Dynamite Vest ... And I'm NOT Talking Fashion!
Posted: Sunday, January 08, 2012
by Octavia Hansen
Octavia Hansen
I can't even remember the movie name but after all these years one point still made an impression on me -- the main character was trying to rob a bank while wearing a vest full of dynamite. I know I saw this film on television. Don't remember when. All I could focus on was the vest.
Where would anybody get this thing? It's not like WalMart has this on a shelf or hanger, or Amazon has a category for terrorist wear. This man was not wearing just any old vest, all lop-sided or just thrown together, all the sticks of dynamite were beautifully alligned, two rows, top and bottom, on each side of what I think were snaps in the middle. Do you really think a vest like that would have something as slow as buttons? It laid beautifully, no pulls, no wrinkles, no sagging -- I cannot get lapels to lay flat no matter how much I baste stitch and sew, but these dynamite sticks were in perfect harmony.
Where do you find this? I was thinking maybe the highway department carried road flares like this but highly unlikely. For one, these guys are really into safety and carrying anything like that in quantity, on your person, is never a good idea. I feel certain they are locked in an airtight, uncrushable iron box that is securely locked when not in immediate use. For two, how many road flares do you need? They are small and anyone can easily carry a dozen in their hands.
Out of silliness, I Googled "dynamite vest" and sure enough -- up popped a few fashion plates where evidently there ARE dynamite vests. I did not pursue this any further (hmmm, research purposes or retail?) -- since I didn't want to purchase one nor did I need a pattern to make my own. Too much for my brain to take in that something like that would be available to the general public. Maybe it if was marketed as a "Hot Dog Vest" I could stomach this product. You know, Big Grill Man at a family or social gathering wearing a hot dog vest, goes great with a beer hat.
Back to the retailing of a dynamite vest -- there were three styles . . . seems the main purpose is to keep the dynamite in front, in plain sight so you advertise that you do indeed carry said threatening dynamite, and if anyone thinks they are going to shoot you in the chest, that the dynamite gets it first. My simple solution? Go for the head . . . but that's just me . . .
I guess because the dynamite vests I did find were made of what looked like canvas panels (Vinyl doesn't breathe -- makes you hot, makes you sweat. Tee-shirts wouldn't be able to hold up more than a few sticks without stretching out of shape.) and a few adjustable straps, I guess it's one size fits all. Knowing that Americans are much larger than anyone else around the world, does this size concept really hold true -- one size fits all? A lot of men I see walking around are at least an extra large . . . maybe the bank robber/terrorist types are on the small side. Obviously, these are people with a lot lacking in their life thus the career move to something illegal and threatening. Kind of like there are not fat homeless people.
Next to the actual dynamite vests photos, there was a printed tee-shirt with the image of a dynamite vest. I suggest NOT wearing anything like this outside of your own home . . . people are jumpy enough at banks, shopping malls and convenience stores. And I'd like to point out that some nervous people carry a concealed weapon, licensed or not.
I do not remember watching the end of the movie. Whatever happened, I KNOW it ended badly for someone. Or worse, a lot of someones. Even that it was only a movie, I can't take things like that anymore. Who needs reality in movies when it's right outside your door? I go for escapism . . . Hey, isn't CARS out with a second film? . . . talking autos, great scenery and a few laughs. That's entertainment!
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Top-level comments on this article: (3 total)Hi Octavia,
If I see one of those vests running around, I am going for the head. LOL!!!! Dawn
Hi Octavia I found this a very intersting read, although my mind did start playing havoc with me for awhile about some of the stories I remember that included these type of vests.
Keep well
Kacy
Good thing you limited your search, with the Patriot Act looking for terrorists....lol
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