My Damascus Glove is Loosening....Is This Normal?

[Nala]

Hey all,

I have been shooting with one of the Damascus gloves and so far I have liked it.  Today I go out to shoot and after just a few shots the glove started loosening up and I know I'm not gaining weight in my right hand.  Is this thing already going downhill after only about 300 shots?  Have you all found this to be the case with these Damascus gloves?  I want my glove to stay tight.

Am I gonna have to find another type of glove to use, one that will hold its shape and not stretch out after a few shots?  Anyone have any recommendations on a glove that will last and won't relax on you after a short while?

Any recommendations on what to try next?

Thanks

Nala

[mike g]

Most anything leather will loosen up on ya after some time....

[vermonster13]

Any glove you get needs to be real tight when you buy it to allow for stretch. You break it in to be big enough for you.

[SCATTERSHOT]

You can tighten your glove a little by gluing in a thin strip of leather into the finger stalls lengthways on the bottom. If you order another one, make sure it's almost too tight to begin with. as stated above, they will all stretch a little.

[Overspined]

Get an American Leathers Big Shot and your troubles will end. Get one that is tough to get on and rub some pitch blend on your fingers and the glove fingers to slip them in. Should still be tough, twist back and forth to get on and don't push on the ends or you will stretch out the fingers. Shoot in in for a while, then continue to use it and twist on and off. The glove will not take but a few days to "break in" and then it will always fit great and not stretch out and become useless like most damascus gloves. Also the comfort is awesome.

[dachba]

The glove must have been too big for you.  I have shot thousands of arrows through a damascus glove without it becoming loose.  My big problem has been the glove getting rough, and grooving too easily.  Now I use a Neat tab with better success, but still sometimes use my glove.
Dave in Ft. Collins, CO

[bbassi]

I've been using the damascus gloves exclusively for about 5 years. They are thin, and therefor wear out quicker, but I like the feel of them compared to others I have tried. I usually go through about 2 a year. The one thing I've noticed lately is the quality control is all over the place. I bought one at Denton that didn't last a month before the leather in the finger tips fell apart. I just ordered 2 from Mike at The Nocking Point (a sponsor here) and the leather in these seem much thicker.

[SCATTERSHOT]

I have noticed the same thing, bbassi. I have a Damascus glove that I have used for many years, with many "field expedient" repairs, but the fingertip leather is still good. I ordered a replacement a while back, and it was of such poor quality that I sent it back.

I just ordered a Big Shot from American leathers, and it seems to be of excellent quality, but man, those finger stalls are TIGHT!

Getting better, though, and I think I'm really going to like this glove.

[LBR]

Leather stretches--like others have said, get one that you can barely get your fingers in when it's new, it will break in and should fit just right.  That's the case with any leather glove.  I shot Damascus gloves for years, but gave them up some time ago--wore them out too fast.

Chad

[olddogrib]

I've soaked them in hot water and let them air dry. Probably doesn't do anything for their longevity, but does seem to tighten them up.

[Shape Shifter]

I had the same problem with my SAM Archery Tab. I love the the tab but after using it for a season, it stretched out more than I would like. I did what SCATTERSHOT suggested and put another strip leather inside and it worked like a charm.