The Armour Archive

Hi there,

I was just wondering if anyone here has used or knows someone who uses full clamshell gauntlets made by the Westlig Stjerne armoury.

I ask because I was thinking of ordering a pair so that I could begin to learn to fight with polearm and spear, and eventually start swinging a sword with a cross hilt instead of a basket hilt. Below is a link to the gauntlets I've been looking at:

http://www.armourworks.com/hands.html

They are the first item listed on the page, "Articulated Gauntlets." What do you folks think? Would this be a good investment?

Khutudei

Hi, I fought in a pair of the mild steel version for about two years. I think that the Movement of the wrist is above average for SCA guants, and enclosed thumbtips are your friend. It seems to me that the multitude of lames require less dishing, and as such deform under less pressure. They protect well, I never had a hand injury fighting in them, and I fight greatsword exlusively.
I have to admit to liking the Andy Ward design better in terms of movement and protection after I put the enclosed thumbtips on. I do think that the W.S. gaunts look a bit better, and protect well. The articulation is done well.
On the whole, I think that they are worth the money. They are way better than most SCA hand protection I have seen and used, and I think they look pretty nice.
I hope this somewhat disjointed account helps.

Insure the wrist is articulated. I bought a pair of demi-gauntlets from there. (Very good quality) One week late form the ship time quoted.

Khann

I ordered a pair of these in stainless from AWS in August of 2000 and recieved them in late January of 2001. They are beautiful and since they were made from an outline of my hand, fit my rather small hands well. I don't use them a whole lot because I am a sword and board man, but they seem to protect well. The only problem I have had with them is that the thumbs are hung on a leather strip and it was to long when it came from AWS. I reset the thumb pieces very short on the original leather strap. However, the first time I used them next in melee, the thumbs still fell off. Scary! I corrected that by adding a strap on the middle thumb piece. I still need to add a leather cuff from my glove attached to the gauntlet to make them eaiser to put on in a hurry. The folks at the armory were easy to work with and I am glad I ordered from them.