Umm, I’m not sure that is the proper name for this, anyway it’s a metal thingy which you pull on your arm in battle to protect it.
But the point of the whole picture is that I tried out uvmapping and texturing the first time in my life, and it was better to create something than to uv-texture a ball, so I came up with this.
And as it doesn’t look all that bad I thought I’d show it, so you could tell me what you think:
Internal blender render, yafray version coming up soon.
I tried UV-mapping today, too - and failed miserably… You seem to have succeeded better… :< 
The easiest way I’ve found to UV map an object is to think about it from the very begining. For example, model the most basic shape you can to represent your object, UV map that, and then start using the knife tool to cut in all the details you need. The cuts will show up in the uv map.
It looks like you’ve done a very good job though
if it wasn’t for the blue in the top right coner(and top left), it would look photo realistic
good job
man, you’re playing elder scrolls III too much
Yafray render. 2nd one is brighter. Textures seem to act a bit strange.
http://web.axelero.hu/ceze1/braceyaf1.jpg
O and I have never played elder scrolls III