Does anyone have any recommendations for leather gloves for sword handling? I know a few vendors sell swordsman gloves, but would a basic pair for the local "mart" be sufficient?

My needs would be:
- Protect the blade and metal elements from my oily skin
- Protect my hands from accidental nicks
- Decent gripping ability

It would be nice if the look was historic but it's not my main concern.

Might I suggest Leather Mystics in Oregon : http://www.leathermystics.com/gauntlets/gauntlets.html#leather

They have both calf and deerskin gauntlets in a large variety of options for very afordable prices. I've used them in historical schlager combat for years,and never had any problems getting a firm grip.

Great site. Of the deer skin and heavy do you have a personal preference?

Revival Clothing has a "swordsmen's gloves." They include a reinforced thumb and palm which should work well for half-swording.

http://www.revivalclothing.com/swordsmengloves.aspx

They also have some padded gloves for sparring and an extra heavy version coming out.

Unless you're looking for a strictly 'period-type' swordsman glove, like a long cuffed gauntlet, I suggest the mechanics gloves for sale at most any hardware/auto parts store. They have leather palms and spandex-type backing, usually with Velcro closures. They give a fantastic grip, and last a long time. I use them anytime I ever handle my swords. :D ....McM

Since I don't do the costume/reenactment thing, I use mechanics gloves as well and they work really great.

I do have some nice work gloves but they are quite dirty for obvious reasons. I could just give them a good clean. :)

I suppose if I was concerned with historical feel then bare hands or a gauntlet would be more accurate for high/late medieval?

I think the most important thing is they be snug fitting. No space in the finger tips, and the fingers go all the way into the webbing of the fingers. all leather motorcycle gloves fill the gap between historic leather and spandex mechanic gloves, and they are built to grip a handlebar.

http://www.riverroadgear.com/laredo.html

These are extremely comfortable and well fitting.

I like summer weight flight gloves but the palms may be a bit thin for regular halfswording. I have though beat the pemmican out of a pair (Pakistani, irrc) for two decades of snow shoveling and they are stiil quite usable. i did burn out the tips on a second pair that were too small but the palms are fine. I presented myself a third pair, going into this third decade of loving them. Desert tan Hatch brand flight gloves are cheap right now.

Cheers

GC

Almost no one makes a period style glove anyway, just buy what ever you want.

That's an excellent point, most of the "historic" gloves are built from modern patterns.

Racquetball gloves. They are very thin and grippy, so give you the historical WMA benefits of a bare hand with the modern safety of a glove. They're meant to do exactly what you want them to do in sword handling--keep the object from flying out of your hand on a full-power swing. You'd have to buy right and left separately, but they're cheap.

http://www.amazon.com/Ektelon-Controller-Racq...ball+glove

Try this for size :)

http://www.gambeson.pl/medieval-on-line-shop/...loves.html

I bought a pair of made to measure hand sewn veg tan leather gloves ( made to an historic pattern) from this company and have been ordering from them frequently ever since.

Apart from that there is Karl Robinson who has a long waiting list and I know a guy in Russia who makes beautiful gloves but infrequently.

Hope that helps

The gloves I ordered did not have the separate cuff ( which would indeed be more in keeping with 16th C onwards). There was a triangular gore in the thumb. The quality of leather used was also very good

Does anyone have experience with the Purpleheart Armoury gloves (normal or padded)?

http://www.woodenswords.com/SearchResults.asp?Cat=1819