The Armour Archive

Is there such a thing? In particular maybe something that could be hidden in a cloth or leather mitten. would a "coat of plates" approach work (rivetting plates to a bendable backing) and would they be SCA legal (grounding to the weapon). Or will i just have to live with it like everyone else...

Of course a coat-of-platesy approach will work. There are gauntlets from the Wisby site made just as you describe. This gaunt type is going to be latter-13th- to early 14th-century. Go ahead and build them SCA, though SCA will insist on mitts for polearm and bare stick, and the Wisby examples seem all to be fingered. If you want a covered-gaunt edition of the SCA half-gaunt and basket solution -- one whose affordable practicality will trump any (legitimate) grumping about its authenticity when it comes to dollars and cents spent on the hobby -- you'll do that. Do 'em up nice and you can probably win an A&S competition.

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"The Minstrel Boy to the war is gone..."

<BLOCKQUOTE><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial">quote:</font><HR><font face="Verdana, Arial" size="2">Originally posted by Thomas of Tadcaster:
would they be SCA legal (grounding to the weapon). </font><HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

Just to point out, in some kingdoms [like the middle] you don't have to ground out the finger plates. In the Middle, the law reads finger plates must ground out OR be padded. So you can make metal plates and pad them. I've personally used finger gauntlets for over 15 years in the Middle Kingdom.

<BLOCKQUOTE><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial">quote:</font><HR><font face="Verdana, Arial" size="2">Originally posted by Thomas of Tadcaster:
would a "coat of plates" approach work (rivetting plates to a bendable backing) </font><HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

Sure, check out some of the Visby gauntlets on my web site: http://www.isd.net/cdavis/authentic.html [top row]

Hourglass gauntlet page
http://www.isd.net/cdavis/hourglass.html

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-Chuck
aka Cadwallon y' Rhudd


[This message has been edited by Chuck Davis (edited 07-01-2002).]

At one time, there was an article online about making a set of mail mittens that will actually protect your hands in the SCA. Essentially, the mail was to hide the hockey gloves.

I have heard of hockey gloves painted to look like human hands. I have also heard of steel gauntlets painted brown to mimic leather in appearance. Some of the gambesons in the Mac. Bible have full mittens on the hands, which would give you some camouflage for a set of gauntlets that are not too bulky.

Myself, I'd like to have a set of really styling gauntlets that I can show off. Essentially, I want high-profile armor. I figure I won't be impressing anyone with my fighting, so I might as well try to impress them with the armor, right?

-Patrick

Hey, Master Cad!

I was just wondering how well your Wisby gauntlets (pattern in the AA pattern library) work for SCA combat. In West, we have to have bridge-over contact in the finger plates of finger gauntlets, but I guess I could figure that out.

What I was really wondering is how well these guys protect in an SCA environment, based on your knowledge and experience. Any special tips for guys who have never made finger gauntlets before?

-Patrick