Bullet-proof Bible

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Alex Boese Alex is the creator and curator of the Museum of Hoaxes. He's also the author of various weird, non-fiction, science-themed books such as Elephants on Acid and Psychedelic Apes. Paul Di Filippo Paul has been paid to put weird ideas into fictional form for over forty years, in his career as a noted science fiction writer. Contact Us

Posted By: Paul - Wed Jun 08, 2016
Category: Death | Religion | Superstition | 1950s | Weapons

Comments

Here's what they looked like.

http://thumbs.ebaystatic.com/d/l800/pict/252294446386_1.jpg

And if you really want one they are 200 bucks on Ebay.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/262464191642?item=262464191642&vectorid=229466&rmvSB=true

Wonder if one of those ever ACTUALLY stopped a bullet?

Posted by Pup Tentacle on 06/08/16 at 01:16 PM

Then why didn't they make the whole uniform out of bibles?

Posted by Bill the Splut on 06/08/16 at 02:09 PM

Protecto Bible Co, soon changed its name to General Dynamics, and specialized in making bullet-proof windows to protect the Pope. (not a true story)

Posted by Greg on 06/08/16 at 02:24 PM

This is the time period of the Korean War, er, Conflict, er, Police Action. I would have been more concerned with what will it do for you in case of a nuclear blast?

Posted by KDP on 06/08/16 at 03:41 PM

Woody Allen told a story about how he put a bullet in his breast pocket, and, when some evangelist threw a bible at him, the bullet stopped the bible and saved his life.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G-RoQ9AXERw

Posted by Joshua Zev Levin, Ph.D. on 06/08/16 at 09:33 PM

Put a metal cover on Playboy or Hustler and that would stop a bullet too. In fact either publication would be larger and cover more area. Or wear a bullet proof vest and read what you want.

Posted by Patty in Ohio, USA on 06/08/16 at 10:11 PM

Ahem. Did that Bible contain Deuteronomy 6:16, or Luke 4:12?

Posted by Richard Bos on 06/09/16 at 10:21 AM

It's not very beneficial to add a layer of gold plate, since gold is one of the softer metals on the Mohs scale, about 2.5. It might have been smarter to make the cover out of a glass mirror; much harder and has practical uses, too. Of course, the main purpose of these was to make money, not protect our soldiers.

Posted by Fritz G on 06/09/16 at 10:29 AM

Essential for all the random bullets and hunks of shrapnel that were flying aroung America in the late 40's and 50's. Oh yes, all those bayonets, too.

Posted by Virtual on 06/09/16 at 08:02 PM

There were tales of Civil War soldiers saved by bullet-stopping Bibles. Other soldiers gave the credit to their decks of playing cards.

Posted by Phred22 on 06/09/16 at 09:16 PM

My dad's father received one from his supervisor after his enlistment, a week after Pearl Harbor. He and a service buddy,who also owned one, used bullets to indent the covers so they could assure their families of the Bibles' protective powers and calm their fears.
It did not protect against malaria, and I inherited the Bible, but no explanation of its lack of medicinal value.

Posted by Angie unduplicated on 06/15/16 at 08:50 AM

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