Lord of Battles – Splinted Plate Bracers

These vambraces use 20 gauge mild steel plates riveted directly to a thick leather backing. The steel plates provide the rigid protection while the leather gives the piece its shape and flexibility around the forearm.

That lacing is meant to tie into the grommet holes of an arming garment or gambeson, giving you a way to attach and reinforce the bracer to the layer underneath. Fit and sizing around the forearm are handled separately by the steel buckles and leather straps.

These are vambraces, covering the forearm from wrist toward the elbow, with an overall length of 11''. The riveted steel plates run along the outer surface for protection while the leather straps secure the piece underneath.

No. The tunic, gambeson, and belt shown on the mannequin were used only to demonstrate how the bracers look when worn, and are not included with the piece.

The photographs show these bracers fitted over a quilted padded garment as well as a tunic, giving a sense of how they sit over typical arming wear. The buckle straps on the underside let you adjust the fit to accommodate a layer like a gambeson underneath.

Wipe the mild steel plates down after handling and give them a light coat of oil before storing, since bare steel will corrode if left damp or handled with bare hands over time. Keep the leather backing and straps dry and store the bracers away from humidity to protect both the steel and the leather.

The steel plates are stoutly riveted to a thick leather backing, and the buckle-and-strap closures are built for repeated fitting and adjustment rather than a one-time display mount. This construction suits reenactment wear as well as display on a stand or mannequin.