"Pikemen wear gloves ?" Topic
8 Posts
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| HappyHiker | 22 Dec 2025 5:25 a.m. PST |
I'm painting up my first epic infantry. Gosh they are small.
The painting guides I'm using show pikemen without gloves. AI says they definitely didn't wear gloves. But KYPD and a few others sites say they definitely did wear them. Reenactors usually wear them, but apparently the 21st C health and safety. If I paint gloves, then you cant see the cuff colour. Otherwise I have no real preference. What do people think ? Gloves or bare hands ? |
| goibinu | 22 Dec 2025 6:23 a.m. PST |
And fairies wear boots… Gloves weren't a fashion statement. They were buff leather, and made the difference between broken fingers or missing fingers. If buff gloves were available, they'd be worn, but they tended to be too expensive for your average foot soldier to buy. |
 John the OFM  | 22 Dec 2025 6:24 a.m. PST |
Not to mention splinters from the wood. |
| Raynman | 22 Dec 2025 6:47 a.m. PST |
Gloves kept blisters away. Pushing and twisting the pike would cause wear and tear on their hands. Also, keep their grip tight when sweaty or bloody. |
| KeepYourPowderDry | 22 Dec 2025 8:09 a.m. PST |
The KYPD epic painting guide was written as a response to the 'how to paint Epic P&S figures' on YouTube. It was a polite riposte to talented painters with no actual knowledge of the period. I tried to show what the figurescan look like with a more accurate historical colour palette rather than slap chop and speed/contrast paint, and gave diagrams identifying what the details on the figures are supposed to be (too many of the YT videos misidentify what things are too).
Yes, you would find some men without gloves, that's inevitable. The overwhelming majority would have gloves. Regiments of Foot that had been in the field for extended periods might not have them, the London Auxiliaries famously were destitute before resupply, as were the Royalist foot returning from Ireland to Chester. At the end of the day, they're your toys, you can do what you want. Take my research (from primary sources) or AI, it's your choice. |
| BillyNM | 22 Dec 2025 10:01 a.m. PST |
#KYPD – I had thought a pikeman would be rather lucky to have a pair of gloves so I am interested in your research that shows different. I did a quick search of your blog but couldn't find anything on this. |
| HappyHiker | 22 Dec 2025 1:22 p.m. PST |
Thanks folks, I've painted gloves. The internet is great asa resource, but there lots of bad data out there. Can't be doing with contrast paints and leaving in the dprue either. #kypd I'm finding your blog very useful, thanks |
| KeepYourPowderDry | 23 Dec 2025 2:24 a.m. PST |
Billy- apologies, away from all my notes & books & photos, but I have found a number of contracts in SP28, and in the Tangye Collection. Caveat: there is a very good chance I didn't write the exact shelf mark down as I'm fairly sloppy with stuff unless it relates to coat issue. HH – good to hear you are finding it useful. |
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