The Armour Archive

which type cuff [cuff only] is prefferred by SCA fighters? please

Granted, I dont use this type, but if I did, I would probably say the one on the left.

I do not SCA fight...

So I choose the one on the right, the short one.
The freedom of wrist movement looks better to me.

The SCA rattan sword play appears to have a lot of wrist snap...
Seeing as they do not have to follow thru with a slash or thrust...
More floppy wrist... tap pity tap tap... should appeal to the masses.

My 2¢

Hal

Left looks much nicer but right would be more functional for SCA. If you could get something in between i think you would have a winner, i would say you want to be able to bend your wrist between 70 and 80 degrees.

Halberds wrote:I do not SCA fight...

So I choose the one on the right, the short one.
The freedom of wrist movement looks better to me.

The SCA rattan sword play appears to have a lot of wrist snap...
Seeing as they do not have to follow thru with a slash or thrust...
More floppy wrist... tap pity tap tap... should appeal to the masses.

My 2¢

Hal

Using wrist flex doesn't mean tap tap. It's also the case that the freedom of movement provided by lots of wrist flexibility relates to what kinds of positions you can get in and out of smoothly and effectively. A good portion of targetting a shot happens in the wrist as well.

Were I shopping for demis I would almost certainly bypass the longer one and go straight to the shorter, wider gauntlet.

Gavin

Yup, the shorter one.
I have one just like it in hardened leather, and I LOVE it.
I tried a longer cuff, but hated it because it restricted movement.

VvS

I did the same thing you're doing, made two (not nearly as nice though) with the two types of cuff. I wound up liking the style on the right much more. The left style restricts motion of the wrist too much. You really notice it when you throw a wrap.

thank-you for the input, will start production on the smaller "bell" cuff model [Hal, I thought your 2c investment would have reaped greater returns LOL]

Yes... I thought my smart ass flippy wrist remark would generatate a snappy come back.

All in jolly good fun you know.

The shorter, wider cuff does give better wrist movement, but try using one on your shield hand, if you are fighting with a strapped shield. A big bell like that forces your hand into a weird angle. Obviously, this doesn't apply to a center-grip shield. I personally prefer the longer, narrower style. What I really like, and would love to see more of, is Wisby style gauntlets. Good wrist flexibilty, maybe a little less protective, but in my opinion it's the best of both worlds.

I didn't think you'd bother wearing a gauntlet on your shield hand. Even if you lose your shield, it is still your non-master hand.

Boner wrote:I didn't think you'd bother wearing a gauntlet on your shield hand. Even if you lose your shield, it is still your non-master hand.

im a bit new to this but....
wouldnt your sheild hand be less protected than your master hand right?
so in my opionion id make a padded mitt gaunt for sheild hand..
preferably leather id say...
but then again im still elarning how to not cross the non historic line.

Historically, knights would be wearing the same armor on both arms and hands. Later period, full plate guys would not have been using a shield in most cases anyway. For me personally, I want to use that armor that is going to be the most effective, for all combat types. Maybe in the same day I will be fighting s & s, great sword and pole, so I want the gauntlet type that will work well for all styles. I dont want to have to lug aroung a couple of different pairs of gaunts, re-arm when I change weapons, or spend the money for a couple of different styles of gaunts when there is one style that will work reasonably well for everything.

In that case, about everything will depend on whether you use baskethilts or not. These emphatically call for a pair of halves as well as a pair of fulls.

One pair of fulls would be paired up with cross-hilted swords, along with the long swords and the pole-weapons. Most fighters regard the two-pair system as having more advantages than disadvantages, baskets being highly efficient protection and good balance for the sword to boot, and inexpensive unless extremely arty -- which goes with the half gaunts, which are also inexpensive unless etcetera. Full gaunts are going to go for more money, and the better their movement the costlier they are.