Scale finger gauntlets

ArtemisGreen · Post by **ArtemisGreen** » Sun Aug 03, 2003 7:29 pm

Could it be possible to make some scale fingered gauntlets that can be used in sca combat? I was thinking that if I made the scales wide enough, they could wrap around my fingers (to touch the handle that i grip) and provide the protection that sca requires. Does anyone know if this would work?

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Tonight's the Night, the Night that we ride.
Tonight's the Night, we live or we die.

Frederich Von Teufel · Mon Aug 04, 2003 6:16 am

Yes, that's the theory, it's the implementation that trips people up. Think of it this way; that's two to four thicknesses of metal between each finger, (not even counting rivits if you use them.) That's a <U>lot</U> of metal. Many people find that gauntlets that meet these specs are uncomfortable to wear, and that there is a loss of dexterity. Creating gauntlets that meet or exceed the SCA specs while still remaining comfortable, safe and usable is not an easy thing at all. If you look around you'll see that there are photos and patterns for gauntlets of this type; notice the 'spread-fingers' look to many of them. As to whether these will be uncomfortable to you, only you can say, and only after you've built yourself a pair.

Frederich

ArtemisGreen · Post by **ArtemisGreen** » Mon Aug 04, 2003 10:00 am

That's the problem I had with my first gauntlet. Whereas I should have started with the fingers and worked my way back, I cut all the pieces out of metal to fit each individual part of my hand before testing how they would fit with the others. Before I knew it, the fingers were so jammed in there, I couldn't fit my hand through.

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Tonight's the Night, the Night that we ride.
Tonight's the Night, we live or we die.

ArtemisGreen · Post by **ArtemisGreen** » Tue Aug 05, 2003 2:02 pm

Does anyone have any pics of gantlets like this? No need for a pattern, I only use pics anyways.

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Tonight's the Night, the Night that we ride.
Tonight's the Night, we live or we die.

Old_bear · Post by **Old_bear** » Tue Aug 05, 2003 2:18 pm

My only concern with scale fingers for SCA fighting is the fact that the blow impact is distributed over only 1-2 plates. Build them slightly larger and you can put a 1/8" layer of felt or thin foam in between the leather strip that the plates are attached to and the glove. You will probably need to sew the strip of leather down to the glove (around the fingers) to keep them from shifting side to side. Good luck. Post progress pictures.

A.

ArtemisGreen · Post by **ArtemisGreen** » Tue Aug 05, 2003 2:36 pm

I won't be starting it soon- i have to get my truck back together before i can buy any more steel

. I do have a pattern for a scale, so i'll post that with a ruler nearby and see what people think.

ArtemisGreen · Post by **ArtemisGreen** » Tue Aug 05, 2003 3:44 pm

Here we go - Just took the pic.

[img]http://home.armourarchive.org/members/artemis/DSCF0012.JPG[/img]

What do you think?

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Tonight's the Night, the Night that we ride.
Tonight's the Night, we live or we die.

[This message has been edited by ArtemisGreen (edited 08-05-2003).]

Owen · Post by **Owen** » Tue Aug 05, 2003 4:04 pm

How about putting scales on the tops of the fingers of something like hockey or lacrosse gloves? They are already list legal, so the scales are just extra protection. Done right, they'd have to look better than the gloves do plain.

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Owen
"Death is but a doorway-
Here, let me hold that for you"