Brass knuckles
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Brass knuckles, also sometimes called knucks or knuckle dusters (more common in British English), are weapons used in hand-to-hand combat. Basically, brass knuckles are pieces of metal, usually steel despite their name, shaped to fit around the knuckles. Designed to deliver the force of punches through a smaller and harder contact area they result in greater tissue disruption and increased likelihood of fracturing the victim's bones on impact. Also, the wielder of such a weapon may punch harder than normal, exacerbating damage even further, due to reduced subconscious anxiety about harming their own hands when striking.
Origins
Brass knuckles are commonly believed to have evolved from the ancient Roman caestus, a type of glove or hand guard made from leather and metal used during boxing matches in gladiatorial events. Unlike modern day boxing gloves which are used to muffle the fist of fighters and thus lessen bodily harm, the caestus was used to intensify the damage caused by a punch or blow.
A similar weapon, the tekko, is one of the traditional weapons of kobudo, a martial art from Okinawa, Japan.
Legality and distribution
In most countries, the possession, let alone use, of brass knuckles is illegal. Recently, brass knuckles are being sold on the internet and in regular shops as novelties, although whether or not they are used as novelties is open to debate.
Brass knuckles can normally be purchased at flea markets, swap meets, and some sword and weapon shops. Due to a shady reputation they are often sold as paperweights or affixed with a detachable screw allowing them to be sold as a "belt buckle".
Use
'Pairs' of knuckles can be custom made to fit individual hands; a common home-remedy is to fix or tape up the grip with electrical tape or gauze tape to ensure a better fit. Due to the generic factory shape and design knuckles rarely fit the user perfectly. This can result in breaking the user's fingers if a punch is thrown straight forward.
When striking with brass knuckles the best places to hit are hard places, i.e. the outside of the forearm, elbows, knees, shins and the head. Hitting someone in the stomach with them is not using them to their full effectiveness. Ideally no skin should touch the top and inside of the knuckles, and the pinky should not be touching the sides of its slot.
A hit from someone using metal knuckles is usually extremely painful. A hard enough hit to the skull, sternum or spine can cause severe injury, if not death. It is for this reason that brass knuckles are considered to be one of the most effective hand-to-hand weapons that exists to date. If one were to believe in a 'fair fight' then brass knuckles would be the last weapon that is considered in a respectable and fair combat between two individuals on the street as it is not a proof of strength; rather it is an enhancement of the punch. However in saying this, the idea of a fair fight on the street is ridiculed by many and for this reason brass knuckles are regarded as being legitimate for carrying by many street thugs.
Typology
Often made in factories in Pakistan[link] or China, brass knuckles typically are constructed out of aluminum, steel, and occasionally copper. Chrome or brass paint is then applied. Truly brass brass knuckles are rare due to the weight and expense of brass. Some knuckles are also made of plastic[link] which can serve the same purpose as the metal variety but are much lighter and less likely to be detected.
Common varieties are spiked knuckles, "fat boys", "wedding rings", brass knuckles donned with a longhorn steer on the knuckles, brass knuckles with lions or skulls on the knuckles, and even "knuckle-knives."
Spiked knuckles are seen to be of the most vicious variety of brass knuckles as they not only can shatter bone into fragments but will shred tissue. The length of the spikes varies from as small as a quarter of an inch to up to 6 inches. Shorter spikes emphasise the impact of the brass knuckle while longer blades are used solely to inflict tissue damage.
Certain brass knuckles are available with knives (especially flick knives) built in. These are very dangerous as a hand to hand fight can lead to a more serious situation where great injury or even death may be the outcome. These knife-dusters are available in many countries across the world and should be handled with care.
Zinc oxide plaster wrapped around the knuckles protects the hands and makes the knuckles a better fit, so there is less chance of dropping them during a mêlée. The fact that the plaster is flesh colored makes them less noticeable.
Notable uses
Brass knuckles have appeared in various movies and TV shows as well. Some recent appearances include a normal pair of brass knuckles wielded on D-Day in Band of Brothers. Professional wrestler
They are popular in the Hardcore music culture, due to the "tough guy" nature of the listeners.
During World War I, brass knuckles were used in hand-to-hand combat in trench raiding operations, and were incorporated into the handle of some trench knives.
WWE Superstar William Regal uses the Brass Knuckles as his finishing move called Power of the Punch.
On an episode of WWE RAW, Eric Bischoff handed Chris Jericho brass knuckles during Jericho's "You're Fired" match with John Cena. John Cena also occasionally uses brass knuckles; his are engraved with "WORD LIFE".
There are even some martial arts employing this weapon.
In the film Constantine, the main character, John Constantine, uses a pair of brass knuckles with crosses etched into them in his fight with Balthazar.
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