Mitten Gauntlet

Mitten-style metal gauntlet with unified finger shell

The mitten gauntlet was a type of armored glove used in 14th-15th century Europe where only the thumb was separated, with the remaining four fingers enclosed in a single metal shell. Cheaper to produce than finger gauntlets and arguably offering superior protection due to the continuous defensive surface without inter-finger gaps, it traded individual finger dexterity for cost and coverage. Preferred by knights wielding lances and polearms that required only a simple grip, it was less suited to swordsmanship requiring precise finger control. The hourglass gauntlet is its best-known variant.