Finger Guard Pattern

[DavidM]

Hello,

I am looking for a pattern for a finger guard to make for archery. Here's a little more info: we are part of a 14th Century England reinactment in Carnation, Wa. So, finger tabs won't work. My 13 year old son is currently using a 3-finger one with velcro & elastic. I have an idea of making one in 2 main parts: one part for the wrist & then individual parts for the 3 fingers which would be connected with small buckles. This is somewhat period as buckles were available, but I wanted to make it adjustable as he is still growing. Does anyone know of any existing patterns that may fit this? I've sketched one up and will try to make it shortly.

As for me, I am very inexperienced. I have begun making my second pair of 'turn shoes' and my sewing still pathetic and I figure that it makes it look more period (yeah, justifying). It will improve with time I know.

Thanks in advance,

David

[Docado]

Hello,

I am looking for a pattern for a finger guard to make for archery. Here's a little more info: we are part of a 14th Century England reinactment in Carnation, Wa. So, finger tabs won't work. My 13 year old son is currently using a 3-finger one with velcro & elastic. I have an idea of making one in 2 main parts: one part for the wrist & then individual parts for the 3 fingers which would be connected with small buckles. This is somewhat period as buckles were available, but I wanted to make it adjustable as he is still growing. Does anyone know of any existing patterns that may fit this? I've sketched one up and will try to make it shortly.

As for me, I am very inexperienced. I have begun making my second pair of 'turn shoes' and my sewing still pathetic and I figure that it makes it look more period (yeah, justifying). It will improve with time I know.

Thanks in advance,

David

Hello David.

You might consider taking a 4 inch square piece of cardboard to make a pattern.

1 inch from top right hand corner and 1 inch from right side mark intersecting position for hole to be cut out for index finger. Index finger hole to be .5 to .75 inches in dia.

Drop down in a straight line from there to @ 1 inch to 1 1/4 inches from top center mark of 1st hole, and make another center mark for position of 2nd finger.

Holes for 2nd and 3rd finger are cut out as one oblong hole.

Once you have the finger holes cut out, you slide fingers through cut out until 2nd knuckles are sticking out of other side.

You will have to cut a slot out between the 1st and 2nd finger to be able to hold the arrow while it is being draw back to shoot.

When pattern is adjusted to your sons liking and trimmed you can try cardboard to see if it works ok before making out of leather.

Suggest 4/5 oz. or 5/6 oz. weight. No sewing necessary. Guard will normally stay on hand when not in use. You will have to adjust measurements to better fit your sons hand.

Hope this helps.

Kirk

[DavidM]

Kirk,

Thanks. That sounds like a finger tab. Personally, I've used them in the past. Also, thank you for laying out how to do it.

From the research that I have done for the reinactment, they didn't use tabs back then. That is 14th century England. Personally, I think it would have been easier, but that is never the case. They generally used either a 3 finger skeleton (open fingers, but closed on the finger tips) or enclosed (such as a glove). From your suggestion, I will use a combination of cardboard and paper bag to see if I can make it work.

Thanks again,

David

[DavidM]

Kirk,

I just completed a skeleton finger guard. I will try to post pictures shortly. I realize that I am inexperienced but gave it a try.

Thanks again,

David

[DavidM]

Here is what I made:

[BoydMiles]

1500 finger tab

Anything that simple stands a good chance of having been invented and used a few days after the first person using a bow got tired of finger pain.

[WillAdams]

AIUI, Fred Bear was awarded a patent for an archer's glove ( http://patft.uspto.gov/netacgi/nph-Parser?Sect2=PTO1&Sect2=HITOFF&p=1&u=/netahtml/PTO/search-bool.html&r=1&f=G&l=50&d=PALL&RefSrch=yes&Query=PN/D107294 ), and before that finger protection was finger stalls (little wraps around finger tips), tabs (thanks BoydMiles for that link!), complete gloves or thumb rings or specialized gloves for Mongolian Draw.

[Bigfoot]

I hope he made a small fortune but it's a good job that patent ran out in '57 or there'd be alot of manufacturers in trouble now.

[sepharad]

Are you speaking of asian style archery? If so there is a glove which replaces the use of a thumb ring.

http://www.archerytorque.com/THUMB-SHOOTING-GLOVE

I may buy one myself to see ghow it works and is built.

[shtoink]

Here is what I made:

I could be wrong, but this seems to be one finger short. From what I have learned, the two finger draw is very highly discouraged due to control over the arrow during draw, holding, and release.