The Victorian sparring glove solution

[Dave B]

That's not a sustainable solution though. I want a piece of equipment I can call standard in SG1, and I can't make 40 pairs of gloves in my spare time.

very true...maybe these folks (http://www.paddedarmour.com/) might consider making them for us. They might even be able to sell them to victorian reenactors as well.

We are already talking about a jacket. For about a year now.
Dont hold your breath

Paul, Do you remember Fox? Big chap, hairy, turned up at the manchester study group a few times?

His partner makes gambesons, and is probably cheaper and more contactable than 'the padded armour company' I shall be carefull what I say because Debbie and Nigel (the padded armour company' are freinds of mine, and they are very well up on the historical side. However they are very busy.

Fox's partner, Jackie, is a trained patternmaker, so would probably be well suited to doing something that was what you wanted rather than a replica of a particular historical one. She's very good, has made several things for me and has an excellent eye for fit and the way things move.

[Paul B]

I have asked around, but it seems the correct materials are beyond the small producer, at least within a budget

[fullplate]

a couple of pictures
Cutlass Drill

no visible safety equipment here

Victorian Quarterstaff


Both scanned from my own collection.
Phil

[Cutlery Penguin]

I like the idea of short aprons to protect the groin.

[Phil C]

Foundryman's or farrier's aprons work well for such.

I rather like the look of the large bearskin sporrans that Hutton used.

[admin]

Yes, I think it is a far simpler (and cheaper) solution than stab-proof breeches etc. I really think that in many areas we should be using the experience of Victorian military fencers, because they seem to have developed pretty universal safety equipment for sparring with various weapons.

[admin]

So I have decided to try and make a recreation of Victorian sabre/bayonet gloves. I am contemplating what padding/stuffing material they may have used. I know that various materials are possible - hair, feather, wool, straw... but what do people here consider these padded gloves may actually have been padded with? What do you think would be most effective?

[craftyfighter]

So I have decided to try and make a recreation of Victorian sabre/bayonet gloves. I am contemplating what padding/stuffing material they may have used. I know that various materials are possible - hair, feather, wool, straw... but what do people here consider these padded gloves may actually have been padded with? What do you think would be most effective?

my guess is wool in both cases...most likely in either a "raw" or "rag" state.

[Phil C]

I'd go for thick felt for ease of manipulation, and modern availability.

I'm trying to recall if it was prevalent in the era though- I have an inkling it was used in some Victorian cavalry tack but can't verify that at the moment

[craftyfighter]

Phil's got a good suggestion with felt, I'd be shocked if it wasn't available and in use at the time...assuming you use the proper thick stuff, you are on to a winner.

[admin]

Excuse my ignorance, but I thought felt only came as compressed sheets? I'm after something that I can use as stuffing, like cotton wool.

[craftyfighter]

Excuse my ignorance, but I thought felt only came as compressed sheets? I'm after something that I can use as stuffing, like cotton wool.

you are correct, that is the usual form that it is found in...however, it sounds like cotton batting is what you are after. http://www.cottonpatch.co.uk/acatalog/Natural_Wadding_Fibres.html What ever you use...go natural, synthetics just don't breath...and we don't want sweaty palms now do we?

[Phil C]

Felt is generally sheets- I was picturing quilted construction so layering the cut out shapes, then stitching through to hold in place.

Stuffing for that period was typically horsehair, abundant then so cheap generally expensive these days, so I'd go with cotton batting too.

[admin]

Thanks guys. My impression from the illustrations is that most of these gloves were made somewhat like a boxing glove (stuffed), but with fingers of course.

[Phil C]

Investigate "bong sau" gloves- they seem rather similar and were designed for practicing truncheon techniques by oriental arts, though the forearm may need some extra layers added.

[admin]

Thanks Phil, I have seen those before but unfortunately they don't really seem right, due to the hand just being under the glove rather than in it (too vulnerable for steel weapons) and also the padding is too stiff I think.

[Alex Kiermayer]

Hi Matt,

the padded gloves for the Mensur people in Germany where and are generally padded with deer hair. I seem to remember horse hair, too.


Servus,
Alex

[admin]

Very useful to know Alex! I'm guessing they are the nearest thing we have to a direct descendent/relative of these Victorian gloves.

[admin]

The Victorian sabre fencing glove, as modelled by Maestro Cerri in 1861:

[admin]

And the full range of protective equipment, as shown in his treatise:



Note on the glove numbered 12 at the bottom, the rubber (or similar material) ring to protect the wrist - this is specified in other sources for singlestick players.