Gauntlet Gloves and Their Origin

Gauntlets gloves are commonly used as protective devices.  Since Medieval times, these gloves, which come up over the wrist and forearm, have been used in battle and trade.  A Medieval knight often wore a set of gauntlets made of chainmail or even metal.  These provided superior protection while in hand-to-hand combat battles.  Sword hits could be deflected and the knight could fight on.

Not only were the gauntlets used to protect the knight from a sword hit, but they were also used as a sort of brass knuckles.  If the knight lost his sword and other weapons, his gauntlets often had a metal wrapping around the knuckles, so they could be used as an effective punching tool.

Gauntlets are still used today by welders or machine workers. They are also worn as a protective measure in contact sports, such as fencing.  When handling corrosive chemicals, workers often wear gauntlets. Even bomb diffusers and astronauts wear some type of gauntlet while on missions.  The gloves may no longer be associated with deadly hand-to-hand combat, but they still protect the wearer.