Gloves

[Pinhead]

I buy my work gloves...

I consider myself a winter-workwear "expert". These aren't too fashionable, but for toughness and warmth they are very hard to beat. I used mine ice fishing in Alaska at -20°(f) and still have all of my digits.:

http://store.glennsarmysurplus.com/usgi-intermediate-coldwet-weather-gloves-gore-tex-p731.aspx

 

[archbury918]

I wonder if maybe our Brit brethren here might have an opinion on these......

http://www.ebay.com/itm/12091559162...eName=STRK:MEWAX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1438.l2649

 

[Otter]

Looks very much like the ones I had from Aero. OK gloves but not 100% authentic.

 

[EmergencyIan]

The next ones I'm after are the wool/leather palm ones by Buzz Ricksons.
http://global.rakuten.com/en/store/vintage/item/br02008/?key=123456
As you say, they'll totally look great with an A2/B3. The leather on the A-10s can get cold, so I wonder how these will fare? There's only one way to find out ...!

I have these same gloves...a pair of originals in size 9...I found them in unissued mint condition. My experience with them is they are not nearly as warm as they may appear to be. I have vintage M-1949 leather US Army gloves that are worn with wool inserts and the Eastman WWII era reproduction horsehide riding/paratrooper gloves, that I also wear with wool inserts, and both are much warmer than the above mentioned gloves.

- Ian

 

[Stand By]

I have these same gloves...a pair of originals in size 9...I found them in unissued mint condition. My experience with them is they are not nearly as warm as they may appear to be. I have vintage M-1949 leather US Army gloves that are worn with wool inserts and the Eastman WWII era reproduction horsehide riding/paratrooper gloves, that I also wear with wool inserts, and both are much warmer than the above mentioned gloves.

- Ian

Many thanks for letting me know, Ian. That's really good to know!
See?! That's why this lounge is great ...! You've just saved me time and money right there.
Looks like another pair of Buzz Ricksons (in a larger size) for me, then ...

 

[Edward]

I've got several pairs of good gloves from various sources over the years. Frankly, it's hard to beat good, old-fashioned army surplus stuff for quality and durability in my experience. British Army officers' dress gloves are always a good option, especially if you want a brown pair. I bought a pair of these - http://www.silvermans.co.uk/tabid/6...ER+GLOVES/0/SKU/4-163-15951-1861/Default.aspx - from Silvermans a few years ago, and have been well pleased with them. [Edited to add: these aren't BA Officer gloves, but something else - that's a different thought I'd moved on to.](Also bought a pair for my dad, and he's worn them for some time as well). For casual wear, it's hard to walk past a pair of "Northern Ireland" gloves:

Widely available in the UK for not much more than GBP10-15, these were issued as a combat glove for years to British squaddies serving in Northern Ireland. Not dissimilar to a black version of the A10 glove, though heavier lined. There is a padded area over the knuckles, which military folklore would have you believe was designed to permit the wearer to indulge in fisticuffs with the natives without any tell-tale bruising on the knuckles. Probably true - at least in terms of protection of the wearer in hand to hand combat; I offer no speculation with regards to whether disguising the evidence of such "combat" was part of the design intent. An earlier pattern also had padding over the fingers - I have very clear memories from childhood in the late 70s / early Eighties seeing squaddies wearing them on armed patrol. Cracking gloves for bitter Winter - I wore them in NYC in February 2004 and my hands were just grand (this was a week in which even the locals complained of the cold, and longjohns were a necessity).

http://www.chesterjefferies.co.uk/Scripts/default.asp Chester Jeffries are great for a whole range of gloves, worth a look. I think some of the shooting gloves are close in design to the A10. I've not had any of those, but I have a couple of pairs of black leather dress glvoes from them, and the quality is superb. My gloves came in at around GBP35. The customisation options are nice - I have one pair in black with a scarlet lining.

I do think that ELC charging £109 for a pair of gloves is taking the p*** somewhat...

Mn. I suppose it's all personal taste - there must be enough folks out there who think otherwise or they wouldn't be still selling them for that. I'm not inclined to spend that kind of coin on a pair of gloves myself, though. That said, I'm not looking to put together a very accurate repro uniform for living history... I'm sure lots of folks have lots of different experiences, but my own is that very often a huge chunk of the extra price you pay for this sort of thing is for the detail and construction accuracy of the item, as opposed to the quality of the item as a garment. In other words, my personal opinion is that they're not necessarily worth £70 more than another alternative as gloves to keep your hands warm. I'm sure they're great - just over my breaking point.

I wonder if maybe our Brit brethren here might have an opinion on these......

http://www.ebay.com/itm/12091559162...eName=STRK:MEWAX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1438.l2649

These look to be the same as the pair I bought a few years ago and still have. The knits are, from memory, synthetic and as a whole I'd say they're more "inspired by" than accurate A10 repros, but I've found them perfectly serviceable as gloves. Not the warmest I own, but for the very depths of Winter I typically shed leather and reach for one of several pairs of cheap sheepskin gloves I have, which are great. These are great for casual or day to day wear when it's cool enough to need my hands covered, but not biting cold.

 

[Smithy]

I have a boatload of gloves, comes from living in Norway twice where they are a matter of necessity. Although my favourites are my Dad's old English made officer gloves from the RNZAF. Sadly they need new linings as they have seen a fair bit of action.

Actually does anyone here know of a crowd that can replace the lining? I tried a couple of places and they said they were in the too hard basket. The outer leather is beautiful and what with the sentimental value they are to me, I would really like to get them fixed up.

 

[EmergencyIan]

Many thanks for letting me know, Ian. That's really good to know!
See?! That's why this lounge is great ...! You've just saved me time and money right there.
Looks like another pair of Buzz Ricksons (in a larger size) for me, then ...

You are most welcome! They are nice gloves, don't get me wrong, but they're certainly not warm enough for Canadian winters.

- Ian

 

[Sloan1874]

Mn. I suppose it's all personal taste - there must be enough folks out there who think otherwise or they wouldn't be still selling them for that. I'm not inclined to spend that kind of coin on a pair of gloves myself, though. That said, I'm not looking to put together a very accurate repro uniform for living history... I'm sure lots of folks have lots of different experiences, but my own is that very often a huge chunk of the extra price you pay for this sort of thing is for the detail and construction accuracy of the item, as opposed to the quality of the item as a garment. In other words, my personal opinion is that they're not necessarily worth £70 more than another alternative as gloves to keep your hands warm. I'm sure they're great - just over my breaking point.

I have no doubt they'd be great, it's just I'd be terrified of losing the damn things every time I wore them. I'd probably end attaching a piece of cord between the pair and threading them through one of my jackets! Not a good look, but, hell, £109... Just of interest, Aero are getting the smaller sizes of their seal and russet models back in stock next month.

 

[Dumpster Diver]

Would Love some Air Gunners Gauntlets with Trigger fingers, I got a pair, but theyre not for Wearin, Just for lookin at.

Any repros out there..Closest I got are some oldschool 60s-70s blue Snowmobile Gloves.

 

[Stand By]

Just taken some photos of two of my best pairs of A-10s for you all to "compare and contrast" as they used to say at school!

The darker pair are my old favourites by ELC, bought around 1996 or so. They're so comfy (they fit me, well, like a glove!) and have aged so beautifully and sometimes I catch myself just admiring the subtle colours and grain of the goatskin. The lining on the right glove is well worn through in a couple of areas as the right glove is constantly being removed and replaced (hastily, in the frigid cold I might add!) at least half a dozen times per dog walk so I can tie off poop bags! Years of that repetition has clearly taken a toll - meanwhile, the left glove lining is perfectly intact!

The lighter pair of A-10s are the Buzz Rickson's in "natural camel". They're just a bit on the small size for me. But you can see the longer cuff design here.
You can see how the leather has darkened nicely on the palm with time, use and leather conditioners too. Bags of character.

 

[archbury918]

Thanks for those pics! An older pair of ELC is what I'm looking for.
I like the camel pair too, but there's an inner bug in me that won't allow me to own a pair. I'm just too fussy about keeping them new looking. I'd find myself owning more pair to replace the inevitable stains that would 'mar' the look! lol

 

[Edward]

I have no doubt they'd be great, it's just I'd be terrified of losing the damn things every time I wore them. I'd probably end attaching a piece of cord between the pair and threading them through one of my jackets! Not a good look, but, hell, £109... Just of interest, Aero are getting the smaller sizes of their seal and russet models back in stock next month.

Oh, I hear you. I look at everything through a very specific price filter: not only "can I afford it", but also "can I afford to replace it?" Thing is, if the answer to the second question is a "no", chances are I might reconsider buying it to begin with, lest I become too precious to do anything other with it than leave it lying around the house, on display...

 

[Stand By]

Oh, I hear you. I look at everything through a very specific price filter: not only "can I afford it", but also "can I afford to replace it?" Thing is, if the answer to the second question is a "no", chances are I might reconsider buying it to begin with, lest I become too precious to do anything other with it than leave it lying around the house, on display...

Oh no, Edward, not me. I don't know about you blokes here, but I don't have a car of my own (I share one with my girlfriend) or holiday every year (haven't had a proper one for 4 years). I don't even have a big wardrobe - but I've got a nice home and meet all my obligations with bills and taxes and there's not much left after that. I got my jackets and gear during my single years and I'm glad I did when I had the chance - and since getting the house, my girlfriend and all the animals, I don't have the spare cash I used to have - and that's life and I wouldn't have it any other way.
My point is, I don't have a lot of material luxuries or excesses that many men may have - but having learnt the lesson of "Buy cheap, pay twice" the hard way and frozen my a$$ for two long and brutal Winters (and I've sworn to myself never to be that cold again), my jackets and gear offer me a small slice of what I consider to be the high life and are my own personal indulgence - it's real quality stuff that I appreciate on many levels. I've just got my new (old) B-6 and it was a real financial reach for me to get it. Could I get another one now if I needed to? Not a hope in hell.
But I'm glad I did ... utility and tax bills come and payments go and are forgotten one month later, only to be replaced with another ....
But this jacket, like the others and the gloves, will be carefully enjoyed and shall remain!

 

[bn1966]

I don't want to become too precious with any of these things that I buy. I had a brief phase where I could afford and doubled up on some items (cheaper end of the spectrum). I then thought about who used & how these bits of kit were originally employed & sold on the spares. If something gets damaged or worn I'll try & get it repaired. Hopefully if I've bought well in the first place (a few quality pieces)...they'll survive my civilian activities. My favourite items I use on a regular basis (pretty much daily)...I've paid a couple of extra $ on general domestic insurance policies to cover my more expensive purchases should they get tea leafed (stolen).