Sword Gloves.

[Max Lancaster]

Anyone else use them?
I have been practice with them while using Blunted steel and Live Steel and I really like the difference. Anyways else try using gloves while you practice?

[Jeffrey Hull]

Oh sure, I always like to wear gloves when working with steel weaponry. Especially if you practice half-sword technique, or if you are practice-cutting. Maybe it is not an absolute, but it is quite acceptable and smart.

[Jason Taylor]

Anyone else use them?
I have been practice with them while using Blunted steel and Live Steel and I really like the difference. Anyways else try using gloves while you practice?

When I do test cutting (hopefully soon--we should talk about that one of these meetings) I'll probably wear some leather ones. For sparring I use Lacrosse gloves, but the padding proved too thin on at least one occasion to prevent hand injury.

[Shane Smith]

I wear gloves sparingly unless I'm working with blunts. Then, it is a requirement as far as I'm concerned for my own sake. I will also wear them while fencing with rapier. With paddeds, I do not wear gloves. With wasters, I wear thin leather gloves if I'm fencing someone who I think just may be able to crack my hands a bit or if I'm having an off day.

[Greg Coffman]

I've seen the back of someone's hand be split open and quickly bleed through the lightly padded glove he was wearing after being hit by an arming sword waster. I reccomend gloves.

[Mars Healey]

I have some nice black, deer-skin gloves that I use when at class using either my aluminum practice sword (www.Swordcrafts.com Liechtenauer blade) or wooden waster. I have some lacrosse gloves and fore-arm pads I used when sparring with a padded sword or the aluminum blade. On the tire pell in my back yard, I use a pair of work gloves from Home Depot.

[Jeremiah Backhaus]

I don't wear any right now. I am trying to build some nice calluses to toughen the hands (stupid desk job doesn't help). Though for more intense sparring I think I may invest in some. It just seems smart, though there certainly is good reason to make sure my hands are out of the way now!! But other than that, I like the control I get from the lack of glove. Not a big difference, but enough that I notice. I will practice with gloves more once I get my period gauntlets made.

-Jeremiah

[Randall Pleasant]

I've seen the back of someone's hand be split open and quickly bleed through the lightly padded glove he was wearing after being hit by an arming sword waster. I reccomend gloves.

More specifically, it was the back of one of Ernie Perez's fingers.

Never one to overlook the humorous, I note that Ernie always signs off his messages with "Was sehrt, das lehrt".

[Greg Coffman]

So Ran, what do you think Ernie has learned?

[JeremyDillon]

I always wear gloves during practice, and especially during sparring. I find it gives a surer grip and of course prevents minor hand injuries. Of course a hard strike with a blunt or even with a waster will hurt your hands every time, if you're wearing gloves or not, so the best solution is simply to not be hit in the hands.

[Corey Roberts]

Speaking of gloves, does anybody have the MRL "Swordsmans Gauntlets" would something like these be worthwhile to get, or would a person just be better off getting some random leather gloves from a hardware store somewhere?

[Gene Tausk]

Speaking of gloves, does anybody have the MRL "Swordsmans Gauntlets" would something like these be worthwhile to get, or would a person just be better off getting some random leather gloves from a hardware store somewhere?

Leather gloves from Home Depot or the like are a much better value. The gloves from MRL are of poor quality and will not last long with normal wear and use. Not to mention, the Home Depot gloves are less expensive.

[Jeffrey Hull]

I think farmer-rancher gloves from hardware store are just fine, since those are basically leather gauntlets. You may want something supple, like buck- or goat-skin gloves. Of course, none of those are padded, so are no protection from trauma, but do prevent cuts inside hands when halfswording, give a better grip etc.

Even though welders-gloves would certainly be thick and long enough to provide protection, they are just too bulky and clumsy for any meaningful dexterity in practice-sparring, drills, etc. Although those type can have their place, as some guys like to wear those for practice-cutting.

[Shane Smith]

Speaking of gloves, does anybody have the MRL "Swordsmans Gauntlets" would something like these be worthwhile to get, or would a person just be better off getting some random leather gloves from a hardware store somewhere?

Leather gloves from Home Depot or the like are a much better value. The gloves from MRL are of poor quality and will not last long with normal wear and use. Not to mention, the Home Depot gloves are less expensive.

Gene is correct. I have a pair of those MRL gloves and they are very threadworn and the seams are opening up. They look pretty spiffy but they're not too terribly durable.

[Jason Taylor]

Has anyone experimented with motocycle guantlets, the type with the metal plated on the backs of the fingers and the knuckles? I've been thinking about trying those for sparring, to provide a little extra protection for the fingers.

Jason