1821 Dec. 96/2 Choosing a pair of sticks.., and screwing them into two hard, thick leather hand-guards.
1869 C. Boutell tr. J. P. Lacombe viii. 128 At the handle the shaft [of the lance] passed through a small circular shield, or hand-guard (called a vamplate).
2004 Oct. 59/1 The handguards are of the round/short ribbed style with a delta ring at the rear.