In the first year after The Change, with limited exceptions, most people fall into one of two categories, A) unarmored or B) protected by modern reproductions of classic armor, with well-made chain and scale mail pretty much representing the top tier. Why is no one using then-current armor designs?

About the newest piece of protective gear seen is a helmet worn by a CORA man (not explicitly named, but by description a U.S. M1, in use from WWII through Vietnam). But nothing newer. No one's salvaged a PASGT helmet or Interceptor vest from a military base, or snagged a set of riot gear or a Second Chance vest from a police station. Modern gear isn't meant for a swordfight, but A) the average American doesn't have enough armor-smithing skill to be choosy, B) any protection is better than none, and C) in some cases the modern stuff would be better than the neo-vintage gear (a PASGT helmet's webbing beats the hell out of a steel pot and quilted padding for blunt trauma, and kevlar could fill in for chain mail quite well with less weight; kevlar won't stop a bodkin point, but neither will chain).

Sure, Armiger is too busy jacking off to visions of Charlemagne to use anything other than the old stuff, and the Bearkillers and Mackenzies were forced by circumstance to do for themselves, but what about everyone else?