"tubular" or "gutter" defenses for the forearm, developing first during the 14th century. During the whole
transitional period , many materials were experimented with
leather, sometimes reinforced with longitudinal strips;
iron; with or without separate
couters. Generally laced directly to the underlying
mail, by 1335 in England the mail was reduced and the
vambrace was attached to the couter via
lames and
rivets (see
arm harness). The use of iron was essentially introduced at that time.
Splinted vambraces were popular in Germany and in Italy during the whole of the 14th century, featuring heavy, possibly tooled leather and reinforced with longitudinal strips of metal. (Blair p. 64)
