Splint Vambraces

Description of the Product

Splint armor, mainly used in greaves and vambraces, consists of narrow and longitudinal metal splints attached to a leather backing. The splints are pierced for riveting or sewing to the leather. The earliest archeological find of splint armour is from 5th century CE of Scythian origin. It was most commonly used in Europe only from the 14th Century onwards, but curiously it makes an appearance already during the Swedish Vendel Era.

The excavations in Valsgärde near Uppsala, Sweden have provided numerous treasures from pre-Viking and pre-Christian Sweden. Grave 8, dated to between 635-650 CE, revealed a ship burial of a Vendel Era germanic warrior. Among this find were a set of splint-armours. The excavators found a total of 21 iron splints plus fragments of leather straps. Each iron strip was angulated upwards. Also found with these splints were small bronze and iron buckles. The interpretation is that they constitute splint vambraces and splint greaves and that the dignitary buried in this boat grave had been a horse-warrior, something swedes at the time were noted for.

Such armour does not significantly impair mobility and the extra weight on the sword-arm is minimal. These bracers offer a fantastic way for a warrior to protect their hands from the wrist to the elbow. Although inspired by the Vendel Era Valsgärde pieces, these splint-bracers have been left plain, so that they are historically accurate for a very long period, from dark age warriors, through the Varangians and into medieval knights.

Matching greaves also available.

• Length: 28 cm
• Width: 16 cm
• Made of 2 mm thick steel
• Includes two vambraces
• Made by Marshall Historical