Questions about functional cestus or what could serve as one
Oct 15, 2014 16:36:51 GMT
Post by KenshinTrigger on Oct 15, 2014 16:36:51 GMT
So this is sort of an armor question, but more of an offensive-means rather than a defensive means.
lets talk cestus. Been around forever, greeks used to wrap cords around their hands for it, romans used leather and bronze, etc. Hell some version of this has essentially existed in almost any culture that was like "Hey, sure this stuff protects my hand, but what if I could punch people with it too?" Even knuckle dusters are technically a form of cestus, though more commonly a cestus was something worn around the hand rather than held in it. A more accurate modern day equivalent would be a police SAP glove, which is either a full-fingered or half-fingered leather glove with heavy stitching and an additional layer across the knuckles and back which is loaded with lead or steel buck/bird shot, and while adding protection to the hand is essentially like wearing blackjacks on one's fist. Another version are some tactical or biker gloves that have a carbon fiber or other material in a hardened section over the knuckle area and fingers to prevent from hard impact during rigorous activity that could break joints if not protected, but can also add a bit of a hardened oomph if it gets down to a slugfest.
Now from what I'm looking for right now though is more of the leather/steel gauntlet variety, namely either steel gauntlets or leather gauntlets with steel plating that serves for both defensive and offensive means. I know there are many full steel gauntlets out there designed to take blows, but I'm not entirely sure about how many armorers or available gauntlet armors out there can dish out the punishment effectively. Its one thing to take a blow and disperse it over an area and its another to have a reinforced section in front of or above the knuckles that doesn't just add weight but also can take acute impact on a focused area.
I have searched a bit on my own to try and find a good glove/gauntlet style cestus, but most of what I come across are videogame wiki's and people who are doing prop recreations of ACII's Cestus glove (which is a mighty fine functional design if someone were to use functional materials). I've looked at a couple half gauntlets and full steel gauntlets too, but I've been trying to find something that's not too bulky but I could also confirm has a section over the base knuckles rather than being jointed behind them. If a joint is present directly over the knuckles, even though it adds more mobility, it would weaken the location where a punch would be delivered. Furthermore, I am unaware which gauge steel would be best suited to taking such impact when delivering a blow.
www.kultofathena.com/product.asp?item=AH6024&name=Steel+Gauntlets this is probably one of the closer things I've found to a functional knuckle-guard in a design that could be used for this, but I have no idea what gauge steel this is nor do i know what gauge steel would be appropriate for a striking surface. 18 gauge usually seems to be the standard for most armor of a passingly functional grade, but I don't know if a cestus would have to be thicker than that. I'm mroe familiar with wearing leather armor and chainmaille so I haven't had too much experience with steel plate as far as impact goes.
I figured we could discuss where one could acquire a possible cestus, or if there would be a kind of steel or steel/leather gauntlet that would function well as one. even though I do not plan to go around punching people, even slugging someone during a sparring session in HEMA, I do always like to seek out functional-level equipment.
lets talk cestus. Been around forever, greeks used to wrap cords around their hands for it, romans used leather and bronze, etc. Hell some version of this has essentially existed in almost any culture that was like "Hey, sure this stuff protects my hand, but what if I could punch people with it too?" Even knuckle dusters are technically a form of cestus, though more commonly a cestus was something worn around the hand rather than held in it. A more accurate modern day equivalent would be a police SAP glove, which is either a full-fingered or half-fingered leather glove with heavy stitching and an additional layer across the knuckles and back which is loaded with lead or steel buck/bird shot, and while adding protection to the hand is essentially like wearing blackjacks on one's fist. Another version are some tactical or biker gloves that have a carbon fiber or other material in a hardened section over the knuckle area and fingers to prevent from hard impact during rigorous activity that could break joints if not protected, but can also add a bit of a hardened oomph if it gets down to a slugfest.
Now from what I'm looking for right now though is more of the leather/steel gauntlet variety, namely either steel gauntlets or leather gauntlets with steel plating that serves for both defensive and offensive means. I know there are many full steel gauntlets out there designed to take blows, but I'm not entirely sure about how many armorers or available gauntlet armors out there can dish out the punishment effectively. Its one thing to take a blow and disperse it over an area and its another to have a reinforced section in front of or above the knuckles that doesn't just add weight but also can take acute impact on a focused area.
I have searched a bit on my own to try and find a good glove/gauntlet style cestus, but most of what I come across are videogame wiki's and people who are doing prop recreations of ACII's Cestus glove (which is a mighty fine functional design if someone were to use functional materials). I've looked at a couple half gauntlets and full steel gauntlets too, but I've been trying to find something that's not too bulky but I could also confirm has a section over the base knuckles rather than being jointed behind them. If a joint is present directly over the knuckles, even though it adds more mobility, it would weaken the location where a punch would be delivered. Furthermore, I am unaware which gauge steel would be best suited to taking such impact when delivering a blow.
www.kultofathena.com/product.asp?item=AH6024&name=Steel+Gauntlets this is probably one of the closer things I've found to a functional knuckle-guard in a design that could be used for this, but I have no idea what gauge steel this is nor do i know what gauge steel would be appropriate for a striking surface. 18 gauge usually seems to be the standard for most armor of a passingly functional grade, but I don't know if a cestus would have to be thicker than that. I'm mroe familiar with wearing leather armor and chainmaille so I haven't had too much experience with steel plate as far as impact goes.
I figured we could discuss where one could acquire a possible cestus, or if there would be a kind of steel or steel/leather gauntlet that would function well as one. even though I do not plan to go around punching people, even slugging someone during a sparring session in HEMA, I do always like to seek out functional-level equipment.