NOVA

(dramatic music) (gunshot rings) (dramatic music) (gunshot rings) (metal impact) (dramatic music) It's a little scary, all this, you know months of work on this piece. And then, you know, you're just gonna be a little nervous. That's all. My gut tells me it's it's not gonna ever penetrate It's significantly thicker armor, right? Mmhm You have an air gap between the two plates and you may have the opportunity for deflection so, you really do have a lot working to your advantage on the next shot. Doesn't mean that it will absolutely stop it. (laughing) The musket is not...this is the super weapon of the time. It's this, the next step is getting hit by a cannon. (light percussive music) Pin's open (gun firing) Just wait a few seconds. Gotta let the range clear. Oh, man. Right through. Nope! Wow! It held up! Held up pretty good, actually. Oh hoho wow. It's just a dent, just a little bigger than my thumb. Look at that. The whole system, everything that we've looked at is impressive from the firearm all the way through to the breast plate. Yeah, I think they've all performed incredibly well. (metal clanking) -

Jonathan

That bullet is gone. (metal clanking) Armor 1, bullet nothing. Wow. -

John

See how that curvature deflected it away.

Goes to show you the peascod belly

it's not just fashion, it's function. (metal clicking) You can just tell where it happened, that's it. Well I mean there's no question about it. This is something where, the soldier wearing this armor gets to go home. (dramatic music)