Something else you could experiment with while you wait on a gauntlet, is to try sparring with sword and cloak. It's mentioned in a couple of texts that the Irish often wrapped their brats around their left arms in place of a target.
Ive been doing rapier and cloak as part of my HEMA practice. Thats good info for me and something Ive often thought of when looking at their brat. Definitely thick enough to safely grab or parry a blade. Still not entirely sure on stopping a thrust...
I came across an article which mentions that the “ kerns “ were known for their use of a long woollen cloak with a hood. The original hoodies if you like !
@TonyM540 Yes and no. A big complaint English commentators had about Irish clothing was their use of the brat (Irish for cloak) in covering up their faces. This, combined with long fringes and beards, made it hard to identify Irish men. The brat of the 16th century was a large semicircular piece of cloth, and doesn't appear to have had a hood, but was simply pulled over the head as needed.
I’ve been wondering about these for the last couple of months and am always shocked people don’t talk about these more! The full arm gauntlet always reminded me of the Roman Manica
@@ramblingkern correct me if I’m wrong but i think I’ve seen depictions of faction fighters which cloth wrapped around their off hands, do you think there is any connection?
@@joekane1844 being so far apart time wise it's hard to say. As a way of fighting it makes sense though, there are many African arts with similar ways of fighting.
Lindybeige had a full set of armour made recently, he might be able to point you to someone. Or Matt Easton from Schola Gladiatoria almost certainly could.
This is a fantastic analysis, as how many times in sparring the moments with any single-handed weapon you reflexively guard your head with your left hand is ridiculous. Might as well armor up. Can't wait to see more on this.
I seen a book is coming out at the end of May "The Skean: The Distinctive Fighting Knife of Gaelic Ireland, 1500-1700" its on bookdepository for around 25euro, pre-order.
Very interesting points, my ideas about the irish gauntlet are very similar. It works good to have a Dirk in the offhand for protection (in reverse grip) in swordmanship, but of course not too much as an active parry-dagger. With the Steel-gauntlet things change a bit.
Thank you for another fascinating piece. [Side note: Always gob-smacked that Irish fighting men (and others) in those times didn't bother with footwear, although spending money on much else, when when we know across history how important footwear is to a soldier]
A lot of this was terrain based. There are plenty of finds of shoes and many of them are very elaborate and nice. But from hiking around with traditional shoes it's often better, safer and easier to go barefoot.
You may want to reach out to Phillip over at Irish Medieval History. I remember in some of his videos he talked about how he saw reenactors using the parry gauntlet. He maybe able to point you in the right direction.
The Filipino arts make use of what is referred to as the live hand to parry and to check, and I've seen identical use of the hand by a HEMA instructor working on George Silver's instructions on the side sword. The parrying hand is always vulnerable to being cut by the opponent's blade and the gauntlet, like a basket hilt, provides protection. And, there's Bruce Lee's maxim of using the longest weapon against the closest available target. As the sword becomes a weapon used almost exclusively for thrusting, the hand is kept well out of harms way. My two cents.
Possibly but I do doubt it. Most swords and weapons of the day would go through hardened leather on its own fairly handily. All of the ones we see in art appear to be steel.
Okay so something someone just made an observation on that I never even thought about, if youve seen depictions of the inside of that gauntlet it appears to be all metal. So I have to wonder if thats just artist interpretation or if it really is just one solid piece with maybe some wrist articulation but no hand articulation? Just an interesting thought that Id be curious to see if we can ever discover more information ahout. I cant necessarily see a benefit of it being just one solid piece with no hand articulation but maybe theres something Im overlooking
Most similar gauntlets do have wrist articulation which is the important part and does not require a lot of effort to create. The fingers on a lot of these seem to be mitten style if the wrist can move then the fingers should be able to as well. Sadly not having any surviving examples from Ireland it's hard to know exactly how they were made.
@ramblingkern Right. Just the interior of the mittens I see, and the set I own, are open on the inside revealing the users leather glove. The depictions of the Irish ones, when we can see their palm, seem to be fully metal. Im unfamiliar with any gauntlet around that time that would be fully metal like that on the inside of the hand as well. Just wondering if it was fully metal with just wrist articulation or its just an artist expression. I hope Im articulating my point well. Id definitely be over the moon if any surviving example were to be found. I imagine there were various differences across those who used them. Seeing as how only 3 depictions look to be around the similar gauntlet and 1 depiction shows the full arm (that I would assume either much artistic liberties were taken or the man decided to cut holes into his sleeve of his leine for his sleeve to hang down freely like we usually see. As well as attatch arming points to his one side.)
Maybe send Knyght Errant a message, one of the most detailed armour people on TH-cam, he's been quite the last few years but he might be able to point u in the right direction for armour's
Something else you could experiment with while you wait on a gauntlet, is to try sparring with sword and cloak. It's mentioned in a couple of texts that the Irish often wrapped their brats around their left arms in place of a target.
Nice shall definitely try that as there are tons of manuals on that topic. Very interesting stuff.
Ive been doing rapier and cloak as part of my HEMA practice. Thats good info for me and something Ive often thought of when looking at their brat. Definitely thick enough to safely grab or parry a blade. Still not entirely sure on stopping a thrust...
@@A_Moustached_Sock a fun one to test for sure. I really need to get some rapier practice in.
I came across an article which mentions that the “ kerns “ were known for their use of a long woollen cloak with a hood. The original hoodies if you like !
@TonyM540 Yes and no. A big complaint English commentators had about Irish clothing was their use of the brat (Irish for cloak) in covering up their faces. This, combined with long fringes and beards, made it hard to identify Irish men. The brat of the 16th century was a large semicircular piece of cloth, and doesn't appear to have had a hood, but was simply pulled over the head as needed.
I’ve been wondering about these for the last couple of months and am always shocked people don’t talk about these more! The full arm gauntlet always reminded me of the Roman Manica
For sure it seems to become specialized later on if that was due to what the English were doing or a purely Irish change I don't know.
@@ramblingkern correct me if I’m wrong but i think I’ve seen depictions of faction fighters which cloth wrapped around their off hands, do you think there is any connection?
@@joekane1844 being so far apart time wise it's hard to say. As a way of fighting it makes sense though, there are many African arts with similar ways of fighting.
Lindybeige had a full set of armour made recently, he might be able to point you to someone. Or Matt Easton from Schola Gladiatoria almost certainly could.
This is a fantastic analysis, as how many times in sparring the moments with any single-handed weapon you reflexively guard your head with your left hand is ridiculous. Might as well armor up. Can't wait to see more on this.
We teach this with some of the stick material we do and how to make that reflex more useful for you. So makes sense to do more with it.
I came up with a similar thing while working on my book recently. I figured it had been done before but I'd never seen it until now. Neat.
Yes they seem oddly obscure in some ways but definitely very common in the English civil war.
I seen a book is coming out at the end of May "The Skean: The Distinctive Fighting Knife of Gaelic Ireland, 1500-1700" its on bookdepository for around 25euro, pre-order.
I had meant to link that in the description I already have in pre ordered myself on Amazon.
Very interesting points, my ideas about the irish gauntlet are very similar. It works good to have a Dirk in the offhand for protection (in reverse grip) in swordmanship, but of course not too much as an active parry-dagger. With the Steel-gauntlet things change a bit.
I have had some nice suggestions of places to get one made so the next step is to try it out and see what I find.
@@ramblingkern Very cool
Excellent. Thanks
Thank you for another fascinating piece.
[Side note: Always gob-smacked that Irish fighting men (and others) in those times didn't bother with footwear, although spending money on much else, when when we know across history how important footwear is to a soldier]
A lot of this was terrain based. There are plenty of finds of shoes and many of them are very elaborate and nice. But from hiking around with traditional shoes it's often better, safer and easier to go barefoot.
You may want to reach out to Phillip over at Irish Medieval History. I remember in some of his videos he talked about how he saw reenactors using the parry gauntlet. He maybe able to point you in the right direction.
Nice we chat a bit so that would be good. Do plenty of reenactment myself so should ask around.
Is he still active?
Haven't seen anything posted on his channel in months.
Reins Gauntlet, little or no wrist movement. Probable origin may be from "Spoils" taken by the Irish who served with the English.
Another great video. I hope you can get one of those gauntlets to test out.
Yes I am still looking for a smith to make one but I hope to get one soon
The Filipino arts make use of what is referred to as the live hand to parry and to check, and I've seen identical use of the hand by a HEMA instructor working on George Silver's instructions on the side sword.
The parrying hand is always vulnerable to being cut by the opponent's blade and the gauntlet, like a basket hilt, provides protection.
And, there's Bruce Lee's maxim of using the longest weapon against the closest available target. As the sword becomes a weapon used almost exclusively for thrusting, the hand is kept well out of harms way. My two cents.
Yes indeed it is a principal seen across many weapon based arts and is important to learn and use.
Cheers for this. Really well done. You’re channel definitely needs more exposure. There’s some great content on here.👍🏻
You are very kind thank you hopefully it will take off eventually haha
I was wondering if the were made of hardened leather, it would be lighter to wear around your neck and you would slide you hand into it.
Possibly but I do doubt it. Most swords and weapons of the day would go through hardened leather on its own fairly handily. All of the ones we see in art appear to be steel.
People in my club have gotten really high quality custom work from steel mastery
Nice I shall message them.
Okay so something someone just made an observation on that I never even thought about, if youve seen depictions of the inside of that gauntlet it appears to be all metal. So I have to wonder if thats just artist interpretation or if it really is just one solid piece with maybe some wrist articulation but no hand articulation? Just an interesting thought that Id be curious to see if we can ever discover more information ahout. I cant necessarily see a benefit of it being just one solid piece with no hand articulation but maybe theres something Im overlooking
Most similar gauntlets do have wrist articulation which is the important part and does not require a lot of effort to create. The fingers on a lot of these seem to be mitten style if the wrist can move then the fingers should be able to as well. Sadly not having any surviving examples from Ireland it's hard to know exactly how they were made.
@ramblingkern Right. Just the interior of the mittens I see, and the set I own, are open on the inside revealing the users leather glove. The depictions of the Irish ones, when we can see their palm, seem to be fully metal. Im unfamiliar with any gauntlet around that time that would be fully metal like that on the inside of the hand as well. Just wondering if it was fully metal with just wrist articulation or its just an artist expression. I hope Im articulating my point well.
Id definitely be over the moon if any surviving example were to be found. I imagine there were various differences across those who used them. Seeing as how only 3 depictions look to be around the similar gauntlet and 1 depiction shows the full arm (that I would assume either much artistic liberties were taken or the man decided to cut holes into his sleeve of his leine for his sleeve to hang down freely like we usually see. As well as attatch arming points to his one side.)
@@A_Moustached_Sock I think the metal palm might be an artists way of trying to depict a mail glove inside of it but again hard to know.
Maybe send Knyght Errant a message, one of the most detailed armour people on TH-cam, he's been quite the last few years but he might be able to point u in the right direction for armour's
He has a great channel I may try it
Thanks a lot for that mate. I`d hate to of been stabbed back in the day.
I would hate for it to happen today too 😂
@@ramblingkern 😁Same