Vintage Baseball Glove Forum

I was an avid Rawlings user, but I really think the quality has slipped on their newer HOH gloves.

I ordered a few Glovesmith Custom Elites and in my opinion these gloves are as good as the older Rawlings USA gloves of the 80's/90's.

Any opinions on Glovesmith?

I don't know anything about the new one's, but my son has had a custom outfield Mod-trap (12.5 or 12.75) for about ten years and it's seen a lot of use. The glove is of excellent quality and has held up very well, not the least bit floppy, except for the laces in the trap. We had it re-laced a couple of years ago.

I have two Glovesmith Custom Elites and I think they are wonderful.
Highest quality of materials and construction. Both were made in the USA... One is a baseball infielder's glove with an "I" web and the other is a softball glove. I am short on time right now, but later I will post pics.

I am very happy with my Glovesmith "Longhorn" import model. 12.5", two piece horseshoe hinged web, solid black. To me, it feels as good or better than my GGP200-4 Rawlings Gold Glove.

Baseball

are those the Oil Tanned "Wheat" color they offer?

Gorgeous gloves, absolutely beautiful. Where can you buy gloves like that? I sure would love to add one to my collection.

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On the baseball glove, I think it is called double currie tanned-Wheat, and It is 3 years old. I had it custom made for me when Glovesmith still made their gloves in Imperial, Mo.



I understand that now, their gloves are made overseas, but with still the same quality materials.

The softball glove was also made in the USA.

Thanks for the compliments, wjr953.

You can find Glovesmith online, or look on ebay where every once in a while you see a nice glove being offered.

Personally, I like the USA made ones, but I suspect the imported ones are every bit as good.



Good Luck!

Beautiful gloves GG!

Here are my two 12.75" Elites. They are both made from the stiffer curried retanned leather. The camel/wheat one is a USA model, and one of the finest gloves I have ever had. Thick leather. Feels great on the hand, wonderful pocket, just perfect for softball. I need to find another one to use, as I want to keep this one for my collection.

The brown one is an import. By far the stiffest glove I have ever had. I use a 12 oz. weighted softball to break in my gloves, and form the pocket. By my latest estimates, I have thrown it over 1100 times in that glove, and it is about 10% broken in. I have used petroleum jelly, Lexol, and pure lanolin at different times to try to get it softened up a bit. Still tough as a tank. People talk about gloves that will last a lifetime, this is one of them. My only minor quibble is that the laces on this one are thinner and very stiff, and a few of them tend to come a little loose at the knots, and don't like to stay tight. Great gloves though, the 12.75" models play bigger than some other brands 13" models.

Hey, Nice gloves, Buffy, the softball glove slayer!!

I got my #24 from Pauly, the originator of this thread. I mistakenly referred to it as double currie tanned Wheat, but you are correct, it is called currie retanned wheat and it is some of the nicest glove leather I have seen.

See you around, S.K.

Hey good to hear from you DM! My glove relacing master Sensei!

I picked up #24 off of ebay. It wasn't from Pauly but it seems as though 24 is a popular number. I am guessing the previous owner wore himself out trying to break it in!

Has anyone tried the oil tanned leather they offer? I'm thinking about ordering a glove so all of these pics are great. It's tough to look at a small swatch of leather and know how it will turn out on a glove. I wonder why the companies that offer custom gloves don't have some sort of gallery to give you an idea of how things can turn out.

I have to admit, I am a Rawlings guy but have to say these glovesmith's look fantastic. I especially like the way they stich alongside the welting.