The Armour Archive

Does anyone have any experience with Andy Ward's work?
I am very interested in his clamshell gauntlets, but I want some oppinions or reviews before I buy.
His home site is:
http://www.wardmetal.com/medieval_armor.html
If you follow the link, it will actually have a rotating pic of some gauntlets.
But if not feeling like clicking it, here is a pic:

I have a pair.

they are good solid, bullet proof munitions grade full gauntlets.

I have had mine for 6 years and they still work just fine.

If you are looking to upgrade from demis and baskethilts for not alot of money, you can't beat Andy's gauntlets.

how much do those go for? I couldn't find a price anywhere.

I have a pair, the only part i don't like is the thumb

He was one of the first guys doing TI armour back about 8 years or so.
last I knew he was selling gauntlets via Ebay they run around 120 or so in steel. I think he stopped making the TI gauntlets due to costs.

Andy Ward has a good reputation as a maker of armorer, especially gauntlets.

I don't have a card for him, so I can't speak for his business practices as far as a review goes, but I imagine that I would have heard something by now if they weren't good.

f

I had a pair of stainless clamshells, and they served admirably.
They were a little bit too small for me and ended up showing enough of my fingers when I presented a spear for ambitious jerks to fit a sword in on them.
I don't consider that Sir Ward's fault, they weren't sized right and I had shoved leather inside the gaunt... in any case they're working out great for a female friend of mine. Short story: be sure they're sized right.

I do not trust the way he attaches the cuff, and in fact when I bought mine I had him leave the cuff unattached so that I could attach it differently. He attaches it with three rivets on the metacarpal and three on the cuff, only all three are on the back of the hand, with one thin strip of leather between them. This means that the cuff is basically loose, offering extra mobility you don't need and (IMO) sacrificing protection you do need.

Basically if you did the same attachment on the sides as well, so the cuff doesn't move and is secured in three spots, they'd be solid IMO.

I'll add some good, too: his thumbs and clamshells are unparalleled in a gauntlet of that price. Simply put, for that money you will not find a more protective gauntlet. The cuff needs work but everything else is incredibly protective. Other gauntlets at that price point tend to have floating articulations, or underlapping plates, or are just plain dangerous. Sir Ward has an advanced grasp of what gauntlets need to do.

Tank. The most tank gauntlets I've ever worn. Also the heaviest and least mobile, but a steal for the price.

Thank you, everyone for your replies. They have been very helpful in my desicion!

Folcric wrote:how much do those go for? I couldn't find a price anywhere.

unles shipping has gone up, they are 125 delivered