BUYING: high end custom 14th cent-ish gauntlets

Samuel · Post by **Samuel** » Mon Dec 06, 2004 7:05 pm

im looking for some quality gauntlets made from tempered steel or stainless with either a brig cuff or short hourglass and either fingered completely or in pairs. for SCA use. the fit MUST be very good, if not perfect. and ive got a half thumb on the left hand. Ill provide casts of both hands. lemme know if your up for it do be done in 3 months or less.

post pics of past gaunts if possible ..

thanks ..

Karl · Post by **Karl** » Mon Dec 06, 2004 7:24 pm

Brother, I recommend John Gruber.

After a long, painful, and exhausting series of interviews with a half-dozen armourers I placed my multi-thousand dollar order for a 1050 harness with John (including gauntlets).

Before spending that kind of coin I flew to Chicago to see a pair of his gauntlets, tried them on, and they were basically flawless.

jouster616@hotmail.com

Make sure you get him to throw in the finger bucklers; my understanding from Jehan is that the gaunts pass with most marshalls but not with all.

Hope this helps,
K

Samuel · Post by **Samuel** » Mon Dec 06, 2004 8:43 pm

that the guy that duke Alaric is workin with?

If so.. I think your right. he has talent.

what im thinkin of is a sort of mix between cads metacarpal plate with the wraping piece around the palm and a short cuff flaired wide ( ideal for single weapon) and Ugos paired finger sections BUT with knuckles like typical 14th cent gaunts...

then about three months of me brassing the hell out of them. ( im debating on using a newer gold plated over brass stuff I saw at a local jeweler supply place instead of raw brass. the idea of them rusting to chunks under the brass gives me stomach pains)

Shade · Post by **Shade** » Tue Dec 07, 2004 5:22 am

I can only agree with Karl about Gruber...

Nice guy to talk to and the work (even the prototypes) is brilliant.

1050 is the way to go, at least from my point of view.

InsaneIrish · Post by **InsaneIrish** » Tue Dec 07, 2004 9:43 am

There is a Laural locally that does excellent 14th century finger gauntlets with the hourglass cuff. He is currently Calontir's Prince. His stuff is damn clean and very historical.

I will forward him this thread and see if he is interested in taking this commission.

Samuel · Post by **Samuel** » Tue Dec 07, 2004 6:11 pm

Cool thanks a bunch guys.

I went and got one of those hand casting kits today from hobby lobby...

I figure with a half thumb on my dominat hand a casting would be the best way to go for nice gaunts.

Ill fire off an e-mail to gruber in a couple days..

I wanna see this stew a bit...

the Irony is I got a 4' by 4' sheet of 22 guage 1095 from JT for an anvil trade but dont have the tools or the space to make the gaunts and send them to him for tempering. guess Ill check to see if that deal carries over and then trade it off for something for my squires.

Jehan de Pelham · Post by **Jehan de Pelham** » Wed Dec 08, 2004 1:17 am

Indeed, Sir Samuel, obtaining a cast of your hands is the only way to go, or at least, I can recommend it very highly, for it is the way John and I went in making my gauntlets.

I will say this about the gauntlets I obtained from John Gruber. My lord Sir Vitus, who you know well for saying ill of that which is ill, and good of that which is good, looked at them and said "Perfect." In truth, this has been my own judgment of them, and they have obtained the admiration of all who have seen them. They are made in a fashion which avoids over-bulk, and yet they are protective. It is a fine line to tread, and I believe that there are marshals out there who may say against them, but I judge them to be in the great minority. I have not met with difficulty yet.

I have used them in deeds of arms with mace, under a basket in a broad sword (when I didn't have a basket-less sword), with a great sword, and with a poll axe. I found myself worrying somewhat when facing a great sword and poll axe, because we understand as men at arms that the stoutest blows are delivered by such arms, but I was delivered no overly painful raps in such cases. However, I await the delivery of the finger bucklers which will make them yet more protective for such uses--especially for use with poll axe or glaive.

I hope this is of use, sir knight.

Jehan de Pelham, squire of Sir Vitus

Leopold Sankt Laurent · Wed Dec 08, 2004 5:31 pm

<a href="http://home.armourarchive.org/members/sasuke/Gruber/gauntlet%20001.jpg"><img src="http://home.armourarchive.org/members/brodir/images/wil/gruber01.JPG"></a>

<a href="http://home.armourarchive.org/members/sasuke/Gruber/gauntlet%20005.jpg"><img src="http://home.armourarchive.org/members/brodir/images/wil/gruber02.JPG"></a>

Best,
Leokarl

DanNV · Post by **DanNV** » Wed Dec 08, 2004 11:24 pm

Hmmm... Now my question would be how much would Gruber charge for a pair of those with mitten style fingers and a heavier duty thumb... Pretty stuff...

Dan

Jehan de Pelham · Post by **Jehan de Pelham** » Thu Dec 09, 2004 1:05 pm

It would have to be much less, for it is in the fingers that the difficulty lies, or so I am told.

Thanks, Leopold, for posting the photos--these are the production photos from my gauntlets, a couple of months ago. John is having professional photos done of them, and other articles he has recently made, so there should be some better photos roaming about out there soon.

Jehan de Pelham, squire of Sir Vitus

Lloyd · Post by **Lloyd** » Thu Dec 09, 2004 1:40 pm

Just an FYI, John has been having computer trouble. Might try to get him through the Duke.

Gruber · Post by **Gruber** » Thu Dec 09, 2004 3:36 pm

Hey everybody!!! I'm at the library today checking e-mails and posts. Thank you all for the praise!!! Wow... Time to keep my armour where your mouths are

Samuel... Give me a call... The number is in your PM.
Jehan, I have your gatling repaired. I wasn't able to chamfer the gatling like we discussed, I wore away two of my detail on the hardened material.... Re-heating to pul the hardness out of the piece would have lost carbon and thus hardness in the end result. The two rivets are nicely peened and filed to show a nicely finished rivet. I'm sorry for the odd-knuckle now, but it will not fail on you again.
Youl see them in a week.
Gruber

Brian W. Rainey · Post by **Brian W. Rainey** » Thu Dec 09, 2004 3:41 pm

Gruber wrote:Hey everybody!!! I'm at the library today checking e-mails and posts. Thank you all for the praise!!! Wow... Time to keep my armour where your mouths are
Samuel... Give me a call... The number is in your PM.
Jehan, I have your gatling repaired. I wasn't able to chamfer the gatling like we discussed, I wore away two of my detail on the hardened material.... Re-heating to pul the hardness out of the piece would have lost carbon and thus hardness in the end result. The two rivets are nicely peened and filed to show a nicely finished rivet. I'm sorry for the odd-knuckle now, but it will not fail on you again.
Youl see them in a week.
Gruber

OFF Topic... sorry. I have tomorrow off and want to hook up... let me know. I have some things to discuss. Time sensitive... involving the Midwest Armour Guild... et. al.

Brian W. Rainey · Post by **Brian W. Rainey** » Thu Dec 09, 2004 3:43 pm

On topic.... I think John would be an excellent choice for executing your project.

He has a knack with making things work.

If my opinion matters any, he comes highly recommended!

Jehan de Pelham · Post by **Jehan de Pelham** » Thu Dec 09, 2004 11:22 pm

John, thank you kindly, and with the gatling (your spelling) you installed I will have no problem at all in any tournament I participate in. :twisted:

However, the repercussions may not be worth the victory.

Sir Samuel, now that John Gruber is installing gatlings on his gauntlets, I double my recommendation--but please let me know what side you will be on.

Jehan de Pelham, squire of Sir Vitus

Samuel · Post by **Samuel** » Fri Dec 10, 2004 3:32 am

Jehan,

I will be on the side in which my King has declared as always:-)

WaaaghBoss · Post by **WaaaghBoss** » Fri Dec 10, 2004 12:58 pm

Gruber has had some computer problems, I am giving him a new (used) PC on Saturday (and working in the shop), so hopefully he will be more active again soon! Right now he has to go to the library to get his email and to post.

His gauntlets really are amazing. I covet. I will have.

Cheers!
~Kevin