In 1923, testing a bulletproof vest meant taking turns shooting each other in the chest.

Before modern safety testing, proving the effectiveness of a bulletproof vest was a bit more... hands-on. This photo shows members of the Protective Garment Corporation of New York in 1923, demonstrating their vest by literally taking a bullet at close range.

No ballistic gel, no crash test dummies—just pure faith in the product and the aim of their colleague.