(SS Boxhandschuhe). A rare and very well-preserved pair of matching SS boxing gloves. Each glove is constructed of multiple pieces of dark brown leather, secured together with machine stitching, with thick internal padding throughout the outer hand and wrist area. A separate channel is provided for the thumbs, and is similarly padded throughout. Stitched onto the palm of each glove is a thin leather strap which conceals five sets of analogous dual eyelets through which is looped a period original white cotton drawstring for an adjustable fit. The drawstring is set through the strap to prevent flapping during use. Each palm also features three ventilation holes set just above the strap. The interior of both gloves has a liner consisting of white cotton with dark brown wool reinforcements. The reverse of the right-hand strap retains a mostly intact Reichszeugmeisterei (RZM) label with an inscription of “BOXHANDSCHUHE FÜR SS” (“BOXING GLOVES FOR THE SS”), with a secondary code of “004671”. They each measure approximately 200 mm (w) x 290 mm (l). Minor, age-appropriate material fatigue is evident to the leather, along with some soiling of the cotton strings. These rare gloves are in an overall near extremely fine condition.
Footnote: Reflective of boxing’s popularity in both professional and amateur circuits in the Third Reich, it was appropriately a common exercise and leisure activity at SS training academies and among personnel in the field. It is possible that the examples offered were retrieved from either an academy or Waffen-SS unit.