Unissued WW2 Army Mittens and Gloves. Let’s give them a “hand”.

[rambob]

I was going through the cave last week and had the idea to create a post concerning the WW2 mittens and gloves I had in my collection. I could not remember there being much posted on this subject in the past, but if this information is a duplicate of anything previously posted, then I apologize.

 

The first item is an unbroken bundle of ten pairs of the first pattern knitted, wool, MITTEN, INSERT, TRIGGER FINGER Stock No. 73-M-2720. Many years ago a vendor at the OGCA gun show had three of these bundles and a number of loose pairs. I regret only buying the one bundle and a few loose mitten pairs, but back then it seemed that the supply of WW2 militaria was virtually unlimited.

 

The gloves and mittens used during WW2 were normally two piece affairs with a warm insert made of wool on the inside. The outer shells were made of cloth, leather or a combination of the two, with different colors such as white for winter and green for the other seasons. According to the documentation I have, the glove and mitten inserts were NOT supposed to be used without the outer shells since they could easily become wet and lose their insulation value. Notice that these inserts had the trigger finger as a separate finger which made firing a weapon in the cold much easier. These early inserts had the trigger finger on the palm side along with the thumb. You can see this in the image of a single pair of these inserts.

 

Note that all 10 pairs of the inserts have a small tag and string that holds the inserts together in pairs. Also, the fact that these inserts were in the X-Large size make them a little more special/rare.

[rambob]

A single pair of the same inserts showing finger/thumb configuration and close up of individual paper tag and string.

[rambob]

The following image shows the next pattern MITTEN, INSERT, TRIGGER FINGER, TYPE 1 Stock No. 73-M-2735 insert on the left side and MITTEN, INSERT, TRIGGER FINGER, Stock No. 73-M-2705 on the right side. The Type 1 insert had the trigger finger on the back of the insert and were designed to fit inside the Type 1 designated mitten-shells. Also shown are the tags for the two pairs of inserts.

[rambob]

This image shows a pair of the early pattern MITTEN-SHELL, TRIGGER FINGER Stock No. 73-M2740 that were used with the early pattern Mitten Inserts. They are beautifully made out of OD cloth, with leather palms and a single strap and buckle to cinch the cuff closed at the wrist. This pair is absolutely mint and are still stapled together at the cuff and also have the original tissue paper between the thumb and leather palm to keep the leather from sticking together. The only markings on these shells are the word MEDIUM that is ink stamped inside each shell.

[rambob]

This image shows a pair of the MITTEN-SHELL, TRIGGER FINGER, TYPE 1 Stock No. 73-M-3620 that were used with the Type 1 Mitten Inserts. They are also very well made with the palm and thumb material being deerskin leather. These shells also came stapled together and have an elaborate ink stamp in each shell reading MENS TYPE 1 AETNA LEATHER NOVELTY CO. CONTRACT No. W 198 Om 34198.

[rambob]

This image shows a pair of the MITTEN, OVER, WHITE Stock No. 73-M-3250 white, camouflage mittens. These mittens were used for camouflage only and would have been worn over a pair of the Mitten Trigger Finger Inserts or Mitten Trigger Finger Inserts Type 1. Note the snap on the back which allows the front of the mitten to fold over so all of the fingers are then exposed so they can be more easily used to do tasks. These mittens are still sewn together as a pair and also came with a photocopy of the label of the box they came out of. The manufacturer ink stamp and date in each mitten match those on the box label.

[rambob]

This image shows a pair of the GLOVE, WOOL, OD, LEATHER PALM, Stock No. 73-G-43850 73-G-43885. These gloves are mint and are made of an OD wool, felt material with a leather palm. These are recognizable as being the gloves commonly being used by WW2 soldiers during cold climates. Note the delicate QM tags sewn in each glove.

[rambob]

This image shows a pair of the knitted, GLOVE-INSERT, WOOL, Stock No. 73-G-55005 - 73-G-55015 that would have been used together with the GLOVE-SHELL, LEATHER to make a complete pair of gloves. Unfortunately, a mint pair of the leather shells for these inserts have eluded me so far, but I am still looking. These inserts also have the string with tag holding the pair together.

[rambob]

This image shows a pair of the WRISTLET, KNIT, STOCK No.73-W-10000 that were knitted by a member of the San Francisco Chapter of the Red Cross. They were never used and are still sewn together as a pair at the front and back of the wristlet. These wristlets were also procured and issued by the US Government, but most you see are Red Cross provided.

[rambob]

This image shows an interesting pair of gloves/mittens that are made out of a rubberized fabric with an elastic wrist band. They also have a thin layer of OD wool felt inside to provide insulation around the palm and fingers. Inside each glove is a large U.S.N. ink stamp which would indicate issue by the U.S. Navy. I dont know much about these gloves, but from the look of them that would be waterproof and reasonably warm. But for really cold weather I believe they would require some kind of insert.

[rambob]

This image shows another interesting pair of gloves that are made out of a greenish rubber that is still very pliable. I bought them as Chemical Corp issued impermeable, protective gloves and they do have the Chemical Corp emblem ink stamped inside each glove along with a US and what looks like a 202. They are also still tied together at the cuffs with a string. Opinions on these gloves are welcome.

[rambob]

Lastly, here is a pair of strange mittens that I have posted before on this forum and the jury is still out on what they are. I bought two mint pairs of these mittens at a gun show and they were still stapled together in pairs. They have two ink stamps on each mitten and are dated 7/29/1940. I have not seen any other examples of these mittens in books, on forums or anywhere and the original post still had them declared as a mystery by the forum. The ink stamps are from the outside and inside of the mittens.

 

Of course all opinions and comments are welcome from the forum and it might be good for an administrator to pin this post for future reference.

Bob

[patches]

Excellent display of the various form of gloves used.

[norwegian blue]

excellent info, thank you for posting

here is a picture of the M-1943 leather gloves shells, I suspect earlier versions have a plastic buckles on the wrist strap

 

 

also I think the last pair of canvas mittens shown are part of the pre-war "arctic" issue

[HoovieDude]

And to think these style of gloves were still being issued well into the early 2000's.

excellent info, thank you for posting

here is a picture of the M-1943 leather gloves shells, I suspect earlier versions have a plastic buckles on the wrist strap

glo.jpg

 

 

also I think the last pair of canvas mittens shown are part of the pre-war "arctic" issue

 

[jgawne]

nice gloves. I have a few bundles of the trigger finger ones as well.

 

Do I see a broad arrow between the U S on the chemical ones?

 

As for the mystery ones, they kind of look like artillery shell handler gloves as used by other nations. But I am not aware of this pattern for the US.

[Fort Susquehanna]

An old First Sergeant in our battalion when I was first in the National Guard saw me not taking good care of my gloves, said something to me about it, and told me this story. He knew a guy back in the 1950's who never wore gloves. Ice cold, worst day, snow, ice forming on a jacket, and he would never wear them. So he asked him about it and was told that the gloveless guy had been in the Battle of the Bulge. At some point, he lost one glove. The remaining glove had holes in it. So he threw the other glove away and suffered, but never wore a pair of gloves again. Your post reminded me of the story.

['Flage Guy]

A mighty fine display and explanation of handwear here

 

Here is a pair of Navy Gloves/Mits almost identical to Rambob's, except for the textured surfaces...

['Flage Guy]

Navy stamps on the cuffs:

['Flage Guy]

Now for the strange stuff- I can't find anything describing their use:

['Flage Guy]

Adjusting straps...

['Flage Guy]

Taken apart; hard to tell whether the Inserts are wool or cotton...

['Flage Guy]

The stamps....

 

C.D. OSBORN CO.

CONT. W-669-q.m.-???-278 (?)

JULY 17, 1935

TENT. SPEC. 2-16-35

PHILA. Q.M. DEPOT

[rambob]

Hey Flage, Nice Gloves/mittens!! It looks like your early, brown leather mittens and my early, canvas mittens may remain a mystery for some time.

 

Regards,

 

 

 

Bob

['Flage Guy]

Thanks, Bob- the pleasure is mine, but my Glove collection will not hold up to yours.

I suspect Norwegian Blue is right about our "Mystery Mittens" possibly being part of the "old Arctic clothing list", which I've seen reference to, but have never seen the actual list. I have an unusual Parka which I've been told is one of the items on this list as well.