Proofing (armour)

The proofing of armour refers to the process of testing armour for its defensive ability, most commonly used to historical testing of plate armour and mail (armour). In the early Middle Ages, armour would be classified by the blows it could withstand, being certified as proof against swords, axes, and arrows. As firearms emerged as battlefield weapons, armour would be tested against them, as well, from which came the modern term "bulletproof".In Japan the testing of armor by arrow or a musket ball is called tameshi with the tested armor being called tameshi gusoku. Helmet and chest armors were tested and many examples of these armors showing the bullet test marks still exist. In the 1300s Japanese individual scale armor pieces were said to have been tested by arrows before being assembled into an armor.