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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. Sometimes vambraces were decorated with extravagant designs as was customary for nobles during the late middle ages.

References

1. Moffat, Ralph (2022). Medieval Arms and Armour: A Sourcebook Vol.1 The Fourteenth Century. Woodbridge, Suffolk: Boydell & Brewer. p. 289. ISBN 9781783276769.

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)

v t e Components of medieval European armour
Head	Armet Barbute Bascinet Burgonet Cervelliere Enclosed helmet Close helmet Great helm Frog mouth Hounskull Lobster tail pot Mail coif Morion Nasal helmet Sallet Spangenhelm Kettle hat
Face	Visor Falling buffe
Neck	Aventail Bevor Gorget Pizaine
Torso	Breastplate Brigandine Cuirass Culet Pauncer Plackart Fauld Hauberk Codpiece Lance rest Coat of plates Jack of plate
Arms	Ailette Besagew Couter Gauntlet Pauldron Rerebrace Spaulder Vambrace
Legs	Bases Chausses Cuisses Greave Poleyn Sabaton Schynbald Tasset
Pieces	Gousset Lame Rondel Arming points

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