The Dreadful History of Brass Knuckles

Feeling inspired by the movies "Lawless" and "Wanted" in which the actress Angelina Jolie kicked the hell out of the thug with the help of real brass knuckles?  Real brass knuckles are not only one of the most effective self-defense weapons, but these are also great conversation pieces in the form of brass knuckles paperweight, brass knuckle belt buckle, and even a bottle opener. 

Brass knuckles have been part of the weapons for quite some time now and don't require much introduction. Nearly everyone is familiar with these ‘knuckle dusters' that are made of one solid piece of metal, usually brass, alloy, or aluminum. Knuckle dusters are quite common but they are very dangerous as well. The most common consequences of using brass knuckles against someone are swelling, bleeding, concussions, broken bones and sometimes even death. 

The construction of these knuckles goes in a way that one end of the metal is formed into four loops/ holes designed to fit loosely into the four fingers of the hand. The other end of the metal piece is formed in a slightly flat curve which is made to fit into the palm of the hand. This protects the hand from getting injured and facilitates in ensuring the safety of the user.  The impact of wearing a set of brass knuckles is the formation of a more solid and much tighter fist. The fingers do not get driven toward the palm, and the brass knuckle provides an additional wallop to the punch. This is some discrete and clear benefiting advantage which one can have against his/her potential attacker.

World Wars

Apart from the ancient Greeks and Romans and their use of brass knuckles, real brass knuckles were modified in WWI and WWII where these served as primary and secondary weapons for soldiers who fought in compact trenches and close-quarter combats. It was also during this era that these knuckles gained much popularity among spies and the American mafia as well due to their compact size and brutal impact. Today, brass knuckles are also included in the trendiest fashion items, such as bags, shoes, leather jackets, etc. 

Check the Laws

Before purchasing real brass knuckles, you have to check for the legality and ask the local law authorities. Also, if you possess this remarkable item make sure to learn the correct and most efficient way to throw a punch while wearing brass knuckles. Typically, fighters use a jabbing motion while throwing rolling punches with brass knuckles. One tip is to keep the striking arm at a curved angle while keeping a straight wrist. The whole idea behind the brass knuckles is to enhance the punching power. In this way, it is more of an assisting weapon instead of being a weapon in itself.