Iron Fists and Magic users

The new book gives both the Butcher and Slaughtermaster the Iron Fist option.  The BRB allows any magic user that can take mundane armour the option for magic armour.  But can the Iron fist by RAW be counted as armour?  The book says Iron First works exactly the same way as a shield but does not call it a shield.  It gives +1 armour save plus allows a Parry save so you can extrapolate that it is armour but it does not call it armour.  So what do you think it should be and how will the Rawyers take it?  I want to make the 2.2 Army Builder file as accurate as possible.

Everybody is assuming it is armour, what else would it be?

That's what it is until a FAQ says otherwise.

Can't wait for an AB file.

Does the new book say that an "Iron First works exactly the same way as a shield EXCEPT that it doesn't count as armor like a shield does"?

the main book says if they have access to get armor OR a shield then the model can have access to the magic armor armory.

so unless iron fist specifically says "This does not give you access to the magic armor second; suck it ogre spell casters!" i think we'll be in the clear.

Right now, it's a bit unclear.  Looking at the book, I didn't see that the Ironfist was specifically listed as armor.  However, going by RAW, it gives an armor save, so it's armor.

I wouldn't get my sights set on having warrior priest-ish Slaughtermasters, though.  We'll see what happens in the FAQ.

If it isn't a shield but functions exactly like a shield, it allows the wearer to take magic armor.  Not sure how this is unclear!

'An ironfist works in exactly the same way as a shield.'

Now, if you wanted to stir the pot you could say that this doesn't mean it actually is a shield. In that case, have fun giving your characters great weapons and ironfists. The implications are too silly and obviously unintended if it were to be argued that it isn't a shield.

Similarly, even if it isn't technically a shield, why would that stop it from being armor?

Well, armour isn't the only thing that can improve armour saves. A mount, barding, and a mount's special rule (thick-skinned, particularly) can all improve a model's armour save but aren't armour.

Maybe the ironfist is a mount, then 

I look forward to GW armed Mournfangs with 2+ saves because Ironfists "are not armor"

Unfortunately, GWs and IFs are either/or for 'Fangs.

Awww

Maybe the ironfist is a mount, then 

conversion opportunity....