The Armour Archive

I have a set of finger gauntlets that protect my hands just fine when I am holding things like swords and axes and such. What I need to know is if these would be legal with a shield. As far as I can find the back of my hand needs to be protected and these do that but when I hold my shield my palm is exposed a little bit. I believe they are still legal but I am not sure what the marshalate would say. I am not looking for an argument I just don't have time to go to a practice just to be told the setup is not kosher. So what do you all think? Is an exposed palm not in accordance with the rules?

You never know what a marshal will actually say


they _should_ be fine

Since I fight in (suede covered) hockey gloves, no shield basket just a leather strap for a grip, and no one has commented on the fact that the palm is covered in just some soft leather.. I can't see that it would be a problem. The standard is 'protects as well as a hockey glove in good repair' or something to that effect. Unless your kingdom has a tighter rule, it should be fine, I would think.

I've been fighting with a finger gauntlet on my shield hand for over fifteen years, in Atenveldt, Artemisia, AnTir and points East- so far, not a quibble.

The people you really need to talk to, of course, are your local marshals.

Bjorn,

If you are fine without the sheild, then you should be fine without it.

Of course, the marshal might bounce you anyway.

f

I think the genral rule is that the thumb needs to be covered with rigid protection. I know many guys that fight with field hockey gloves with a large piece of rigid plastic (maybe 7" x 3") duct taped over the thumb.

As everyone says, the marshal is the final word on it. But most of them, if it's visually questionable will simply ask you, "Do YOU feel safe wearing that knowing someone is wildly swinging a baton at you?"

If YOU feel the gauntlets provide enough protection, then you should be able to reasonably explain why they should be allowed, and argue it to the marshal. In my experience though, when you are asking yourself "Is this enough?", you probably already know the answer.
-Cian

freiman the minstrel wrote:If you are fine without the sheild, then you should be fine without it.

I knew this, but for some reason since it is me I completely forgot about it.

And the rest of you, thanks for the thought, like I said "I" think it is cool but I just needed an outside opinion on it.

Cian of Storvik wrote:SNIP. In my experience though, when you are asking yourself "Is this enough?", you probably already know the answer.
-Cian

Not always. Sometimes asking "Is this enough?" just means "I believe its enough, it SHOULD be enough and most sensible people would say its enough, but is some asshat marshall gonna bounce it anyway?"

An idea I have seen used for exactly this eventuality (the Marshal who just won't allow things), is a small plate with a leather strap that can be gripped along with the shield grip. 99% of the the time it can live at the bottom of the armour bag, but is still there when you meet THAT marshal.

I have a similar small buckler like piece that I wear by grabbing it's strap along with the enarme of my shield.

It isnt pretty.

Nor is the back of my shield but there is a really good picture of it over on the pics to inspire noobs thread.

Finger gaunts should be fine.
But Marshallate understanding of the rules and interpretation of same varies widely. I have had some doozies presented to me during my tenure as regional deputy.

I like to wear mine and sneak into a line my marshals are inspecting to see what they do with me. Unfortunately they all recognize the crusader harness now - time to change personas I guess.