Windlass’ Leather and Steel Vambraces
Apr 1, 2015 22:33:58 GMT
Post by pgandy on Apr 1, 2015 22:33:58 GMT
Being Santa Semana things are slow in my part of the world so I’ll take an advantage and create a review on Windlass’ Leather and Steel Vambraces. I paid for these and have no connection with MRL or Windlass. In short I think these are great and will end my quest for vambraces. I don't think that I can do better than these.
I had two previous pairs. The first pair were of 3 ply 8 oz. leather. Not having the best confidence in the leather I added metal plate to the inside, even covering the open space between the two sides. I think these should work fine but the fit is a bit snug over my gambeson. That and the six straps made them slow to put on. Not satisfied with the fit with the gambeson I upgraded. I use those more than I probably will the next two types of vambarces combined as I found them most helpful when working around my razor wire fence.
I had seen an ad for Windlass’s Leather and Steel vambraces but passed considering the estimated short $200 (my price is about double the selling price) cost by the time I received them too much and instead ordered their Steel Vambraces, seller’s price $54.95. I had these long before reading Heimdhal’s review sbg-sword-forum.forums.net/thread/3830/mrl-steel-vambraces which I found accurate. I found the vambraces to be on the soft side and measured the metal to be on the thin side of 19 gauge. Soon after receiving them I put them on over my gambeson and gave a good whack with an eskrima stick to find a fair size dent, but they and the padding distributed the energy sufficiently, not great but sufficiently. I had planned to beef these up by riveting on metal strips but never got the project off of the burner.
When I saw MRL’s deal of the day offering their $90 Leather and Steel Vambraces for $45 less my discount I jumped at it. My total cost $92.11, just about double the vendor’s price as usual.
These are what I had hoped the others would be. The metal plating is 19 ga., I think. I say that because I had difficulty getting the callipers between the metal and leather. Not only is the metal radiused and has steps and corners to strengthen it, it is layered making these stronger than my previous pair. They have subdued the metal eliminating Windlass’ normal high gloss, which is also to my liking.
The one that I weighed was 442.5 g. The grade of 8 oz. leather, which is 2 ply, and quality of work appear to be quite good. These are 12.75” long, comfortable, and do not hinder my movements but I need to wear with a gambeson, which in most cases would be recommended anyway. I like the fact that these vambraces give protection to my elbow whereas the others did not and this fact bothered me. I think for more protection there I will need to go to plate armour.
I gave it the eskrima stick test, I think with the same force used on the Steel Vambrace. The blow was well distributed and there was no telltale sign left on the vambrace. Overall better than before.
The negative that I have is that they used the same buckles they did on the Steel Vambraces, and I didn’t like them there either. They are stamped out of sheet metal. On the positive side these are easier to work with this time for some unexplained reason. I had bought buckles as replacements but the buckles are 5/8” and the straps measure .525”. I am afraid of the free play. I could look for ½” buckles but I am reluctant to make the straps any narrower. Also on one vambrace I had to add extra holes in order to fasten it around my forearm. At 165 lb. I am not a big man. This was no big deal especially since I had intended to elongate the existing round holes. I find oblong holes, like on my pants’ belt, easier to work with than the round ones that get supplied by armourers.
I had two previous pairs. The first pair were of 3 ply 8 oz. leather. Not having the best confidence in the leather I added metal plate to the inside, even covering the open space between the two sides. I think these should work fine but the fit is a bit snug over my gambeson. That and the six straps made them slow to put on. Not satisfied with the fit with the gambeson I upgraded. I use those more than I probably will the next two types of vambarces combined as I found them most helpful when working around my razor wire fence.
I had seen an ad for Windlass’s Leather and Steel vambraces but passed considering the estimated short $200 (my price is about double the selling price) cost by the time I received them too much and instead ordered their Steel Vambraces, seller’s price $54.95. I had these long before reading Heimdhal’s review sbg-sword-forum.forums.net/thread/3830/mrl-steel-vambraces which I found accurate. I found the vambraces to be on the soft side and measured the metal to be on the thin side of 19 gauge. Soon after receiving them I put them on over my gambeson and gave a good whack with an eskrima stick to find a fair size dent, but they and the padding distributed the energy sufficiently, not great but sufficiently. I had planned to beef these up by riveting on metal strips but never got the project off of the burner.
When I saw MRL’s deal of the day offering their $90 Leather and Steel Vambraces for $45 less my discount I jumped at it. My total cost $92.11, just about double the vendor’s price as usual.
These are what I had hoped the others would be. The metal plating is 19 ga., I think. I say that because I had difficulty getting the callipers between the metal and leather. Not only is the metal radiused and has steps and corners to strengthen it, it is layered making these stronger than my previous pair. They have subdued the metal eliminating Windlass’ normal high gloss, which is also to my liking.
The one that I weighed was 442.5 g. The grade of 8 oz. leather, which is 2 ply, and quality of work appear to be quite good. These are 12.75” long, comfortable, and do not hinder my movements but I need to wear with a gambeson, which in most cases would be recommended anyway. I like the fact that these vambraces give protection to my elbow whereas the others did not and this fact bothered me. I think for more protection there I will need to go to plate armour.
I gave it the eskrima stick test, I think with the same force used on the Steel Vambrace. The blow was well distributed and there was no telltale sign left on the vambrace. Overall better than before.
The negative that I have is that they used the same buckles they did on the Steel Vambraces, and I didn’t like them there either. They are stamped out of sheet metal. On the positive side these are easier to work with this time for some unexplained reason. I had bought buckles as replacements but the buckles are 5/8” and the straps measure .525”. I am afraid of the free play. I could look for ½” buckles but I am reluctant to make the straps any narrower. Also on one vambrace I had to add extra holes in order to fasten it around my forearm. At 165 lb. I am not a big man. This was no big deal especially since I had intended to elongate the existing round holes. I find oblong holes, like on my pants’ belt, easier to work with than the round ones that get supplied by armourers.