Appropriate gauntlet for 1350-ish kit?

[Sir Patrick]

Would these work for a 1350-ish English kit?
http://www.kultofathena.com/product.asp?item=SNSA9408&name=14th+Century+Hour+Glass+Gauntlets

[Ian]

Hourglass gauntlets do start showing up on English effigies dated to the 1350s.  So the style is appropriate. Whether those particular gauntlets are any good is another question entirely.  Knowing what goes in to fabricating a good pair of functional hourglass gauntlets, I can make a pretty good guess that they'd be an OK costume piece at best, but obviously I've never personally handled those.

[Sir Patrick]

I should have clarified for style only (I don't like the way the glove sticks out the top), as opposed to the more "Wisby"-looking ones you see everywhere or a "Cherburg" style.

[Ian]

From effigies of the 1350s, Wisby appears to be the dominant style of gauntlet, but hourglass show up as a close second, and just plain maille starting to phase out completely.

From Dr. Doug Strong's analysis:

Articulated means gauntlets of hourglass form but with multiple laminations at the wrist.

Hourglass means gauntlets with a wide bell cuff.

Segmented means gauntlets that are made from multiple plates similar to those found at the battle of Wisby.

Mail means gauntlets made of mail. These may be either mitten or fingered form.
http://talbotsfineaccessories.com/armour/effigy/English-Effigies.htm

[Sir Brian]

Man at that price they would be excellent for harnischfechten and even useable for Blossfechten with a perhaps a better quality glove insert. I might have to get them just for those possibilities alone!

[Ian]

Man at that price they would be excellent for harnischfechten and even useable for Blossfechten with a perhaps a better quality glove insert. I might have to get them just for those possibilities alone!

That price is exactly what makes me weary about using them for anything other than costuming.

[Sir Brian]

Oh I have no allusions that they will be crap out of the box for any real practical use in Blossfechten, but for harnischfechten the requirements for mobility and impact protection is so much less since the thrust is the primary attack. 

In fact Sir Patrick, you wouldn't be out that much to invest in a nice pair of medium weight deerskin gloves (Falconry gauntlets are excellent) and replace them for those shoddy suede inserts. You can add some extra hidden padding in the fingers as well and stitch the wider cuff of the falconry gauntlets to the upper cuff. - Well that's what I'm going to do with mine when I get them!

[Thorsteinn]

Maybe hit up 3 Turrets, Windrose, or Icefalcon for you hand protection?

Save a bit & hit up Surly Anvil?

[Sir James A]

Great info, Ian!

Man at that price they would be excellent for harnischfechten and even useable for Blossfechten with a perhaps a better quality glove insert. I might have to get them just for those possibilities alone!

That price is exactly what makes me weary about using them for anything other than costuming.

I would take them for Blossfechten over just a set of lacrosse gloves or other similar lower end protection, but perhaps the best thing to do would be remove the glove that comes with them and sew in a set of lacrosse gloves instead.

[Thorsteinn]

Street Hokey or some of the modded gloves that Ice sells minus most of the wrist padding. Though felted wool or Sorbothane would be better still.

[Sir Rodney]

I’m hesitant about quality at that price point as well.  They’re so darn cheap; I’m considering picking up a pair just to do a review!

[Sir Brian]

Well essentially I'm looking at them as rough/raw material to work with. I paid nearly double that price for those pathetic Wisby gauntlets I bought from SPQR which I eventually turned into my Franken-Gaunts that served me well all last season in numerous training sessions and duels of Blossfechten and harnischfechten. These gauntlets from the photos appear to be at the very least on par with that quality but probably a little better. The tell will be in the quality of the leather tabs that the steel plates are riveted to. If the leather is half rotten like those gauntlets I bought from SPQR then they will need a bit more work. If the leather is decent quality then you could just get by with replacing the insert gloves. But as I purchased a pair yesterday and they are now in transit, I'll let everyone know if they are decent enough quality to work with. These would likely just be harnischfechten gauntlets for me since I'm building a newer pair of Franken-gaunts with plate pieces made by Allan Senefelder to use in Blossfechten.

[Sir Brian]

Update:

Okay these gauntlets are a very pleasant surprise! 

They fit my bear paws very well and they offer great mobility. I did some practice Meisterhau, especially the Scheitelhau and the cuff did not impede my action in the least. These are good for both harnischfechten and blossfechten but I'll use them for harnischfechten since there is no padding whatsoever. After I finish my new gauntlets for blossfechten, I'll change out the suede inserts with the deerskin ones from my old franken-gaunts.

These are a sweet deal Sir Patrick! I'd get a pair while they are in stock for this great price.
I give them two thumbs up!  

[Sir Nate]

Update:

Okay these gauntlets are a very pleasant surprise! 

They fit my bear paws very well and they offer great mobility. I did some practice Meisterhau, especially the Scheitelhau and the cuff did not impede my action in the least. These are good for both harnischfechten and blossfechten but I'll use them for harnischfechten since there is no padding whatsoever. After I finish my new gauntlets for blossfechten, I'll change out the suede inserts with the deerskin ones from my old franken-gaunts.

This are a sweet deal Sir Patrick! I'd get a pair while they are in stock for this great price.
I give them two thumbs up!  

Meow

[Sir Patrick]

Thanks for the review. Time to do some shopping!