The M1949 Glove Shells are made of full grain, chrome tanned leather. The leather is treated with a water resistant compound. They were issued for cold weather but used in Vietnam by recon teams fro protecting the hands in the jungle undergrowth who cut the fingers off for dexterity in using a weapon, they came to be known as "recon gloves". These are a nice "salty" pair I picked up on a recent trip to Fort Lewis.