The Armour Archive

Anyone know who makes and/or sells mail mittens for SCA combat? Or does anyone have suggestions on how to make your own?

Thanks,
Bear

maille itself is not the best material for protecting from rattan. It flexes way to much to keep bones from breaking.
A number of people cover the back of the hocky gloves to help improve the look.

somomailler just posted that he is looking to take commisions....

For Rapier maille gloves are a lot less common they in years past but some come from whiting davis a company that make protective equipment for the meat cutting industry.

Atlanta armoury might be another option.
Knutt does a bunch of welded chainmail and may be willing do the gloves as well.
Theringlord.com sells supplies as well as hosting a decusion forum.

My first attempt - I'm working on a better version:







more:
http://mattyds.com/essays7.php



Brother Amos has a set that are used as gauntlets.

D

Its hard to tell, is that mail just attached to a normal half gauntlet?

D. Sebastian's picture is mail on a what looks like a regular glove.

losthelm wrote:D. Sebastian's picture is mail on a what looks like a regular glove.

I ask this not to judge but because I am ignorant of the EK (IIRC thats where D is from) rules.....

Does the use of basket hilts not require more than a leather glove out there?

I guess what Im asking is ...is the mail purely cosmetic or does it take the place of a rigid material (if a half gauntlet is required)

A rigid basket or cup hilt with enough bars or plates to prevent a blow from striking the fingers or the
back of the hand. If a basket or cup hilt, shield basket, or center-grip shield is used, a vambrace and or
partial gauntlet shall cover the remaining exposed portions of the hand and wrist.

The above is from the Marshall's Handbook, page 12. Note that it says "a vambrace OR partial gauntlet" (emphasis mine). So if you are wearing a vambrace that covers enough to meet the basket and cover the back of the hand and wrist, you're legal by society minimums (and EK rules as well). I have a big basket on one sword that would probably meet this requirement with my vambrace.

Me, I always err on the side of better hand/wrist protection these days... Broke a wrist once (military, not SCA) and have no interest in repeating the experience!

Edit: all that said, "rigid protection" can be defined as two layers of untreated 11oz leather, so it's not hard to insert that as a hidden layer. I don't think mail counts as much of anything for protection under SCA rules, however.

My vambrace covers my wrist.
The chain is on a simple glove.

The set I'm working on next will have a slightly padded glove, simply because that's what I have.