Battle of Visby: Gauntlets
” It was at the end of July 1361 , 1,800 Gotland farmers lost their lives in a brutal clash with Danish troops under King Valdemar Atterdag. He was intent on subjugating Gotland after conquering parts of Skåne and Öland. He had landed on the island with a professional army and was preparing to march on Visby. Part way there, in the marshlands of Mästerby, the Gotland farmers tried, unsuccessfully, to halt his advance.
The last battle was fought beneath the Visby town wall. Both children and old people among Gotland’s farming population had joined in the defence of their island. Visby was forced to surrender on 29th of July. King Valdemar was victorious, and more than half the farmers of Gotland had been killed in battle.
The dead soldiers and their equipment were swiftly buried in large mass graves after the battle. The remains of the dead, the armour and the weapons are internationally unique in the sense of so much remaining in a state of preservation when archaeologists excavated the site in the 1920s.” –Meer.com
The Visby gauntlet finds, excavated from the 1361 Battle of Wisby mass graves in Gotland, Sweden, consist of over 18 different types of brigandine-style, small plate gauntlets and gloves. Types 1, 2, and 3 are the full intact sets found at the site.
Type 1 Visby Gauntlet Kit
Visby Type 1: DIY Kit
Designed off the type 1 find, this simpler style gauntlet was iron and leather. In our kit we’ve opted for a 16ga aluminum to allow for ease of shaping to folks who are not experienced.
Note: This kit fits a small, medium, or large hardware store glove, Specifically designed for the in between small and medium due to lack of access on the market.
The kit includes:
– 60 Precision cut and deburred, pre-drilled 5052 Aluminum** Pieces for 2 gauntlets
– 200 aluminum** rivets
$150 CAD *
*5+ kit purchased together drops price to $125 each
**Armourers may contact us requesting different materials like Mild steel and Stainless steel. 5+ kits minimum order for other materials. Armourers must prove they are capable of working on said materials (simple as showing your past work) before order can be filled to ensure safe shaping take place for end users.
Shown above is the first set made from the new laser cut patterns. The gauntlet went through over 6 versions to get to a place where an average fighter might be able to also make it. Not included is buckle to close the cuff, it IS recommended if you are choosing to not simply make the cuff large enough to slip into.
Instructions, Instructional video, and digital templates for leather cutting will guide you though assembling your own gauntlet, keeping finger protection economical.
Highly recommended with the kit is also a set of SMASH caps. This is due to the fact that these historical gauntlets where designed to stop cutting, but the nature of our training meanings we are subjected more to percussive forces then sharp slicing blades. These caps ensure even if you don’t deep dish the tips, you will be protected from harsh impacts of training weapons.
When ordering please make sure to specify the size caps you need!
Need help deciding?
Pros
- Free moving fingers and thumb
- Won’t rust
- Just as light weight as Plastic finger gauntlets
- Looks more historically accurate then chunky plastics
- Minimal material between fingers allow fist to close properly
- Skills gained means gauntlets are easily repairable
- Some play in pattern means can be made for multiple sized hands
- Ikea effect means you become attached to them quickly
- Infinitly modifyable to make them PERFECT for you
- attach the fingers to the backplate for more protection or leave them off for more mobility
- add a palm strap for better back of hand stability or dont add for more natural feel on your palm
- add closing straps for a tight slim fit or make a cuff large enough to slip them on and off
- add thong loops so you can take them off but have them still hang on your wrists or hang them on the wall to dry
- preplace the knuckles with a set of brass ones for more flare
- shorten or lengthen each finger in the build for a custom fit
- Customize leather colours for the fashion!
- Make the back of hands and cuff removable you can wear the “demi gauntlet” style alone
Cons
- Aluminum can deform easier then steel
- Not suitable to Rattan or Buhurt combat
- Takes time to build yourself
- May assemble incorrectly making them uncomfortable
- Hey if this happens just contact us, we will trouble shoot the issues with you to get it back to conformable.
- No instant satisfaction of slipping them on the moment they arrive
- May not be allowed at some “no metal” Hema Tournaments
- No grounding without the SMASH caps fit in
- Currently wont ship to USA from armourer (partners in the works!)