Vambrace

File:Left Arm Defense (Vambrace) MET DP-12882-028.jpg

A left-arm vambrace; the bend would be placed at the knight's elbow

File:Pair of Vambraces (Arm Defenses) from a Costume Armor MET sfsb26.188.1 001.jpg

An ornate German (16th century) vambrace made for Costume Armor

Vambraces (French: avant-bras, sometimes known as lower cannons in the Middle Ages) or forearm guards are tubular or gutter defences for the forearm worn as part of a suit of plate armour that were often connected to gauntlets. Vambraces may be worn with or without separate couters in a full suit of medieval armour. The term originates in the early 14th century. They were made from either boiled leather or steel. Leather vambraces were sometimes reinforced with longitudinal strips of hardened hide or metal, creating splinted armour.<ref>Template:Cite book</ref> Sometimes vambraces were decorated with extravagant designs as was customary for nobles during the late middle ages.

See also

• Bracer, armguard used by archers
• Manica, armguard of the ancient Romans

External links

• The Armour Archive examples and construction information for replica vambraces
• Metal vambrace with integrated elbow and upper arm protection (replica)