Armored Truck Guards Wearing Weird Gloves ???

[David]

This really confused me.

I saw two armored truck guards (armed with what appeared to be S&W 686s) off-loading heavy-looking metal containers (perhaps containing coins?) from their truck.

They both were wearing loose fitting thick leather works gloves that looked like those in the photo below.

It seems to me, just in case they had to draw and use their sidearms while wearing gloves like that, they would have a very hard time in doing so, to say the least.

I would think they would wear, perhaps, some tight fitting mechanic's or shooter's gloves instead.

Any opinions?

 

[ChuteTheMall]

I've noticed all of them wearing gloves, but usually fingerless black gloves like for bicycling or weightlifting. They don't get paid much at all, maybe those work gloves were on sale. I bought a similar pair on sale at WalMart for $1.96 to keep in my car, they seem more all-purpose than my more specialized gloves. I don't see why they need gloves, they basically do the same chores as UPS drivers but with some weight on the belt.

 

[c_yeager]

Ever tried to lift a metal crate full of change? Those things are damn heavy. Most "police" type gloves would wear out quickly under such use. I think the daily chore of lifting the crates outweighs the tactical favor using other equipment. Its amazing how your priorities change with conditions.

 

[mormonsniper]

I destroyed a pair of weightlifting gloves trying to use them for shooting.
Two rounds fired with my Ruger split the shooting glove on the seams.
If you want to use a glove, get one specifically designed for shooting. The sharp recoil tore the glove up. (Redhawk in .44 Mag).

I can see why gloves work for some folks (extended shooting sessions, winter shooting, etc). Like driving with shoes on vs driving barefoot. It is difficult to slam on the brakes with no shoes on.

 

[Soap]

The armored car guys that serve our bank seem to completely not give a hoot about anything involving tacticality or firearms, etc. The one guy's gun is so beat up; it looks like someone took a knife to the grips. It's his life...

 

[VaughnT]

I've not seen a lot of guys wearing gloves to offload a truck, except in the winter when the hands can get very numb without them. Like everything else in life, there are trade-offs to be made. Whatever gloves you choose, they better be cheap because they won't last long in that environment.

Daniel, the grips are always going to be damaged. That doesn't mean the guy doesn't know how to use the pistol!

 

[4v50 Gary]

Looks like leather work gloves. Now, the real issue is whether they can operate their firearms while wearing those gloves.

 

[stans]

Are those guys issued just one bullet that they must keep in their shirt pocket?

Ooooo, that one is likely to get me flamed!

 

[c_yeager]

You know seeing a guy with a beat up gun can often enough mean that he has put more rounds through it than a lot of us will in our lifetime. Be carefull before you criticize the condition of a persons equipment.

 

[VaughnT]

Mr. Yeager, thanks for that. A well-used weapon will often exhibit heavily worn grips.

Be very wary of a man with scrubby grips on his weapon. That's one book you don't want to judge by the cover!

 

[tcdrennen]

When I drove an armored truck a few years back, when unloading bulk coins or cash (even fork lift loads, sometimes!) one of us was ALWAYS scanning the perimeter while the other(or others - the bigger trucks and all night runs always had THREE guards, one with a shotgun) unloaded cargo.

You may not have seen a third guard - he may have been inside the truck, or watching from a better vantage point.

 

[seeker_two]

The one guy's gun is so beat up; it looks like someone took a knife to the grips.

Notches from his previous gunfights, perhaps?...

 

[gunsmith]

all armed guards are not equal

Most of the guys in my outfit can not speak english.
One day I asked a guy "is that a GP100?"
He said "no,I think it's a Ruger"
After he took it out of the holster and looked
he saw that indeed it was ...now he thinks I
am some kind of firearms expert
They have no idea what CA law says regarding
armed guards,never practice & are near blind anyway!
One had his sidearm STOLEN after
falling asleep!!!
There are only 3 out of 15 I trust to not shoot me
by accident.
I am lucky that I work by myself at a "safe"
tourist location 3 days a week

 

[AZ Husker]

Last time I saw one of those guys servicing an ATM I didn't know what to laugh at first...his "plumber's butt" showing or his gun belt slid around 90 degrees!

 

[Double Naught Spy]

QUOTE:
"I destroyed a pair of weightlifting gloves trying to use them for shooting.
Two rounds fired with my Ruger split the shooting glove on the seams.
If you want to use a glove, get one specifically designed for shooting. The sharp recoil tore the glove up. (Redhawk in .44 Mag). "

----

Um, no. Recoil did not split the seams of your gloves. What probably split them was that they were tight to start with, you gripped the gun tightly for firing and that put additional strain on the seams. When you fired, the gun pushed into your hand, causing compression on the contact side and then expansion everywhere else. In short, you had too much internal pressure for the seams.

Contrary to the suggestion, shooting gloves are not really all that unique or specially designed to handle recoil in some manner, although they may be specially designed in terms of fashion or fit. They are not made with special threading for the seams or anything like that. If you get properly fit gloves, you should not have a problem.

FYI, I have also seen several folks ruin expensive shooting gloves like the cool, lightweight, thin leather varieties that look really good on sponsored shooters at matches but don't look to hold up for more than a couple matches.