Gauntlets 1350-1410

Most types of sword are designed to provide some protection to the hand, but in hand-to-hand combat, for example, blows can come from anywhere and leave fingers severely injured. That is why gauntlets were, and still are, considered indispensable in any sword fight.

By 1300, chainmail was slowly being replaced by plate armour, and this transition is clear in the gauntlets. At first, the metal plates were small and attached to leather or cloth gloves. By 1350, a larger piece of armour had been introduced that protected the wrist. This piece was narrow at the wrist and widened – in an hourglass shape – towards the fingers and elbow. Although this piece was made without any articulation, the flared hourglass shape allowed movement of the wrist. Later, different types of finger guards (lamellar, scales and articulated plates) were added to the gauntlet. Examples of this type of gauntlet are present in various depictions throughout the 14th and 15th centuries, demonstrating the reliability of their design.

These reinforced gauntlets are historically authentic and were commonly worn from c. 1350 to around 1420. The knuckles and finger joints are double reinforced and the scales on the fingertips are curved to allow for extra protection. The leather gauntlets have an extra layer of padding on top to absorb shock. The inside of the wrist opening has been molded to increase mobility.

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