Leather gauntlets / thumb protection

[Chicken]

Has anyone here had any success with any kind of articulated leather plate gauntlets? My fingers are all quite doublejointed, and my left thumb often gets hyperextended backwards at the base knuckle when I'm spearing. I haven't found any commercially available gloves that are stiff enough to prevent it short of lacrosse gloves, and I'm worried those would restrict my wrist too much.

I'm thinking about attaching some hardened leather lames to a glove to prevent it from bending back too far, but I'm not sure what the best way to do it would be. Making a lame that extends backwards past the knuckle and is attached over the first joint seems easiest, but also risks breaking the metacarpal where the lame hits it if it's really pushed back hard.

A metacarpal plate that overlaps slightly above a regularly sized joint lame would seem safer, but I can't think how to make one that would fit tightly enough to keep the joint from hyperextending without locking my hand into a fist. That is, if that metacarpal can move normally (make both a first and a flat palm) then I'd be worried it'd have too much play to prevent it from hyperextending.

I wonder if that made any sense at all.

[Isk]

Cannot answer your questions for making new armor, but I can say that I have sparred quite a bit with lacrosse gloves in the past and did not find that they inhibited my wrist motion. I switched to MMA gloves and don't use lacrosse now just because I don't feel like I need all that protection in Bel. If lacrosse gloves would restrict your thumb enough, I wouldn't worry about losing too much wrist mobility, but YMMV.

[varadin]

if you really want to stop your thumb going backwards pick up a pair of hockey gloves. They suck for movement but your thumb is protected by a half inch thick piece of plastic.

Ive got a half guantlet i fight in that works alright but my thumb plate is loose and tied via a loop of cloth. So not gona help you.

My bet would to take a pair of demis and add a thumb onto them. I plan on working on some tommorow actually ill take some picks and post them.

[Iorek]

I had some success with making a leather gauntlet. It's a gauntlet with a wide wrist attached to a sleeve and then a couple plates articulating out over the knuckles. the main piece over the back of my hand makes a bit of a horseshoe shape so part of it covers my thumb but leaves a hole for the handle of a sword or any other weapon. I can't find any pics of it right now so I'll have to get some for you.

[Tordek]

i saw someone had them out of leather at Battle of the Ring, cant remember who it was.

he was the only guy that gut a cut from a javelin though.

[tvetree]

No gauntlet is going to do what you want ,unless you keep your thumb on the shaft.


Sorry if this sounds rude,not meant to be.

[Sir Anastasia]

i saw someone had them out of leather at Battle of the Ring, cant remember who it was.

he was the only guy that gut a cut from a javelin though.

LOL Chicken, the guy that got cut by the javelin is Dubh. It's a small world for Chamonix.
-AoC
PS Hardiron, Chicken is another Chamonista.

[Thomas MacFinn]

That is, if that metacarpal can move normally (make both a first and a flat palm) then I'd be worried it'd have too much play to prevent it from hyperextending.

Why do you need a flat palm when fighting?

[tvetree]

That is, if that metacarpal can move normally (make both a first and a flat palm) then I'd be worried it'd have too much play to prevent it from hyperextending.

Why do you need a flat palm when fighting?

Grappling

[Chicken]

That is, if that metacarpal can move normally (make both a first and a flat palm) then I'd be worried it'd have too much play to prevent it from hyperextending.

Why do you need a flat palm when fighting?

It's for my front hand while spearing - I often open it up either to allow myself wider angles or to release the spear entirely for shots off to my right.

Since I'm normally wearing chain at events, much less so for the grappling .

[Thomas MacFinn]

I gave it some thought. A half-gauntlet attached to a glove, with a thumb plate attached to the same glove and extending under or over the half gauntlet. If the thumb plate is properly curved, it may work for you and not restrict your movement too much.

[Calarn the Black]

Gorlock has some clamshell gauntlets with thumb protection.

[Bortas]

Forkbeard was looking at an SCA style gauntlet (but for the life of me, I can't find that thread now). I ended up making one too, for giggles. It doesn't move like I'd need it to for S&B, but it seems like it would be awesome polearm fighting. Between the leather and your hand is 1/2" to 1" of EVA foam.

-bort

[tvetree]

Forkbeard was looking at an SCA style gauntlet (but for the life of me, I can't find that thread now). I ended up making one too, for giggles. It doesn't move like I'd need it to for S&B, but it seems like it would be awesome polearm fighting. Between the leather and your hand is 1/2" to 1" of EVA foam.

-bort

]

Was it this one...

viewtopic.php?f=130&t=28216

[Thomas MacFinn]

Well, if all you want is hand padding, there is this thread also:

viewtopic.php?f=107&t=24821&hilit=+hand

[Bortas]

Forkbeard was looking at an SCA style gauntlet (but for the life of me, I can't find that thread now).

Was it this one...

viewtopic.php?f=130&t=28216

That's the one. Foolish me, I was searching the armory.

-bort

[tvetree]

Forkbeard was looking at an SCA style gauntlet (but for the life of me, I can't find that thread now).

Was it this one...

viewtopic.php?f=130&t=28216

That's the one. Foolish me, I was searching the armory.

-bort

I don't post that much I just had to look at my own past posts.

[Chicken]

Thanks, all! I don't know why I hadn't thought of doing the metacarpal plate in two pieces but I think I'll give that a try and see what happens. * thumb is still stiff from Beltaine.

[Tobia Blackthorn]

If you're fine with using something more eastern, and willing to order it, you might be able to use a kote...not sure what the wrist movement is like though.

http://www.e-bogu.com/KendoBogu_s/33.htm