I found these pre-war gloves at an antique store earlier this year, but I've never seen another pair like them. They're basically similar to the World War II riding gloves attributed to paratrooper use, but the strap has a snap with a brown plastic-covered button. There's military nomenclature stamped inside the wrist of one glove but it's very diificult to make out. It appears to be a pattern date from the 1930's.

 

 

Has anyone ever seen this style before? I would assume that as far as the Army was concerned this was just another pair of riding gloves -- the supply system isn't nearly as concerned with minor pattern variations as collectors are! I'm just curious whether other gloves like this are known to have been issued during World War II.

 

Bill

Closer view of the snap:

 

The inside of the snap:

 

I thought I'd bump this topic to the top since we've got a lot of new members here since it was originally posted. Does anyone have any additional information on this pattern?

 

Bill

I saw a pair exactly like that in another collector's collection. They too were 1938 dated and had the snap. I think that there were alot of small variations at the time and this must have been one of them. I have a set of the lined winter horsehide riding gloves and they do not have the snap. I'd say they are just like you say, a minor variation that isn't seen in the WWII era photos or QM books. I also have a pair of 1940 heavy work gloves that close with a snap and don't show up in any QM books I've seen. is it possible to see the QM marking?