MRL Steel Vambraces
Feb 21, 2007 2:45:13 GMT
Post by ShooterMike on Feb 21, 2007 2:45:13 GMT
Steel Vambraces From Museum Replicas Limited
Museum Replicas offers a number of pieces of historically inspired armor manufactured by Windlass Steelcrafts in India. I wanted some metal forearm protection and decided to purchase a pair of their steel vambraces. For those who are not familiar with vambraces, they are wrap-around protection that run from the wrists to the elbows. Early period versions are typically made from thick leather with metal plates, splints or lames attached. Later period examples are steel shells made to cover the outer portion of the forearm. These are designed to give good protection from both cutting and piercing weapons. In extremely good examples, they also give a moderate amount of protection against blunt trauma weapons like maces, war hammers, etc.
I settled on the steel shell version as I wanted something that offered good cut protection as well as something to hopefully prevent broken bones in extreme cases. And because I had a desire for a new shiny toy. ;D
MRL's Description
"This steel lower arm guard will go with a large range of period outfits and weapons. It is nicely formed and lined with leather. Straps on the inner arm adjust to fit just about anyone. When the head and hands were protected by armor, the lower arm was one of the prime targets in swordplay. In many cases it was the only piece of armor worn, most often along with a mail shirt."
Fit and Finish
They came from the box without the typical Windlass mirror polish. They were covered with the usual plastic wrap over oily coating. But the finish was slightly more subdued than the usual MRL fare. I like the looks of the finish a lot. It's smooth enough to keep corrosion-free with light maintenance, but not so shiny as to be obnoxious. In short, it looks like period armor.
These steel vambraces are designed to represent a wide range of time periods. They are built as a suede lined metal shell. They fasten with two leather straps and buckles, which are each riveted to the steel shell. I really like the design, however the examples I have are made of some thin and very soft metal. They can easily be bent to conform to the shape of the wearer's forearms, both with or without a garment underneath. While they can be worn on the bare arm, I can't recommend the practice. All four corners of each vambrace are very sharp. I found this out the hard way. I strapped on the vambraces and went through a series of longsword drills with bare hands. As one point my right hand came too close to the point of the left vambrace. The contact removed a half inch long furrow of meat from my right hand, just above the thumb. For this reason I recommend anyone who obtains a pair of these spend the necessary time to file or grind the sharp corners into round radiuses. I did this and the result is that the vambraces are now much more comfortable.
Before testing and modification, note sharp corners
Click for fullsize image
Testing
I decided to test how well these vambraces protected the forearms. First I tested their cut resistance. This test involved making increasingly more forceful slices against the outside with a sharp sword. For this I used my MRL Medieval Falchion. The sword's edge is not quite "paper cutting sharp" but is about right for a heavy chopping sword. I tested only draw cuts, as the heavy chopping would be saved for a later test. The results were noticeable scratches and cut marks on the surface of the vambraces, but nothing close to penetration.
For the second test, I had a partner land a series of blows to the outside of my forearm with a pine 2x2 about 4 feet long. The first blows were landed with the flat surface to simulate blunt trauma. These were not landed with full force, but were enough to demonstrate that quite a bit of shock is transmitted through the steel vambraces. This led me to the conclusion that I would want a decent level of padding between my forearm and the steel vambraces if I used them for serious fighting with blunt weapons.
The third test was a series of blows with the edge of the wood, to simulate a dull sword blow. This test was immediately stopped after the second blow, which resulted in a noticeable blade-shaped dent in the vambrace, and the matching "stinging red welt" on my forearm. I believe that if this blow had been landed with the falchion, at the very least a bleed cut would have been the result. Likely much worse.
After Testing and modification, note dent. OUCH
Test Results: The MRL Steel Vambraces are reasonably comfortable, after the sharp corners are removed. They give a decent level of protection from light cutting and slicing weapons. They should be worn over the sleeves of a padded garment. However, due to their manufacture from overly soft metal, I would not consider them a piece of battle-ready armor.
Given that the retail price of these steel vambraces from MRL is $70, I wasn't expecting them to be made from armory steel, or even to be well tempered. But they appear to have no temper at all. The design is certainly sound. I wish Windlass would use a little bit better metal and give it a bit better temper. However, for use with light cutting weapons they seem to do a nice job.