In support of Rich's post, here are my last pair of worn through cow hide gloves
1) Old Work Gloves by
British Red, on Flickr
I was very pleased with the Wells Lamont at £8 a pair delivered
6) Wells Lamont cowhide Gloves by
British Red, on Flickr
They are a flexible cowhide - comfortable to wear for long periods and they feel quite soft. They have a "ropers" reinforced plam which is particularly handy for working with fence wire
7) Ropers Palms by
British Red, on Flickr
Now these are fairly soft and flexible to begin with, but find cowhide does stiffen up when its gets wet and dirty and dries out. So the first thing I do is douse them with Neatsfoot oil (a bit different from Richard's choice but I have some and it works for me)
The oil soaks in, softens and protects the leather from absorbing too much water.
8) Neatsfoot Oil by
British Red, on Flickr
The leather will darken - go back over any very light areas (between the fingers and along the seams normally)
Next I rub over the gloves with sadde soap. This seals in the oil and adds another measure of protection
9) Saddle Soap by
British Red, on Flickr
Once that is done you can see how flexible the leather is
10) Pliable Gloves by
British Red, on Flickr
Next I pull them on and wear them for a bit while they dry and confrom to my hand
11) Wear to dry by
British Red, on Flickr
Very pleased with the purchase Rich - thanks for the heads up. I may well buy some merino liners t try with them too![/QUOTE
Thanks for the heads up Rich, great gloves. If it helps my glove size is a 9 or 10 and the large is a great fit.
Lou