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The only armor that was found to protect the upper and lower extremities after the fall of the Roman Empire to the more extensive use of chain mail after the 9th century was leather and splint.
This form of armor was not widespread and normally used by a professional warrior or chieftain. The limb armor consisted of long, narrow rectangles of iron, steel, horn or even wood. The splints were usually riveted to leather straps or, in latter era, attached to mail.
Splint armor protected the shins and forearm of the sword arm. The warrior's shield usually protected the other arm and the thighs. The dimensions and style of the splints and the hand-pounded copper rivets are similar to what they did when they created the armor at that time. The dying of the leather was usually done to preserve it for a longer period of time and the Celtic cross pattern was found near St. Patrick's Cathedral in Dublin, Ireland.
The few things that were not usually done is that it is covered entirely behind in leather and not merely straps and it is laced instead of buckled, which the armorers at that time would have done. I have done these things mostly for stability and comfort.
Bibliography
Bruce-Mitford, R. The Sutton Hoo Ship Burial Handbook, British Museum Publications, Ltd., London, 1979.
Cederlof, O. Journal of the Arms and Armor Society, March, 1955.
McBride, Nicolle, PhD., Arthur and the Anglo-Saxon Wars, Osprey, 1984.
Oakeshott, R. E. Dark Age Warrior, Lutterworth Press, London, 1974.
Ard-Eaglais Naomh Padraig, The National Cathedral and Collegiate Church of St. Patrick, Dublin, Ireland, http://www.stpatrickscathedral.re/2.htm
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