If you've ever seen an old-school gangster movie, then you may have seen one of the iconic props in film history: brass knuckles. Brass knuckles are a weapon that was classified as illegal weapons in almost every state, but for a long time, they were perfectly legal to purchase and sell without restrictions. Then sometime around 2004 or 2005, due to pressure from politicians and law enforcement--probably for symbolic reasons- knuckles became illegal in most states. 

Why would anyone want these things? In the simplest terms, knuckles are a type of weapon that is used typically by boxers or other martial artists who want to do some serious damage with their punches. A normal human fist doesn't have much power but can deliver some serious damage in the right way. A trained martial artist using a regular fist can do severe damage to another human being. 

They can knock their opponent out, they can break their nose, and they may even fracture their skull--provided the blow is delivered with enough force. The only problem is that a regular punch with a normal fist doesn't deliver as much force as most people think. Most experienced martial artists are aware of this fact and train to deliver more force to their punches through proper training and conditioning. That's where brass knuckles come in handy.

How to Wear Brass Knuckles?

If you have ever wanted to know how to wear these knuckles, you've come to the right place. But first things first, it's important that we point out the danger of carrying these weapons — they are not toys. These knuckles are often used as self defense weapons and can also be used in instances where firearms or other weapons are prohibited. 

They allow people who would otherwise not be able to defend themselves against threats due to size, age, or disability an opportunity for protection. Brass knuckles are a type of weapon that is worn on your fingers, typically on the pinky. These weapons consist of a piece of metal shaped to fit comfortably as a knuckle guard which is often wrapped in leather or plastic and then fitted over the end of one's clenched fist. 

These knuckles became popular in 1914, with their first use during Prohibition to avoid police detection against saloons and speakeasies; they have since become associated with street gangs. Not only illegal, but they are also in fact very damaging to the person wearing them (pinky finger, ring finger, and knuckles).

Read More: How to Wear Brass Knuckles?


Types of Knuckle Dusters

Brass knuckles are a type of weapon that is used for self-defense, but they are illegal in many countries. They come in many different designs, and you can even make your own brass knuckles! Below is a list of the different types of these knuckles:


1) Diamond Knuckle 

A diamond-shaped piece of metal that has been shaped to fit around the knuckle. This makes it easier to punch someone with more force than if you were punching with a bare hand.

2) Spiked Knuckle 

This type looks like it has spikes coming off the side instead of any flat surface. People who prefer this design say that this provides better protection from other weapons like cool pocket knives.

3) Cylinder Knuckle 

This is a knuckle that has a half-moon shape instead of a diamond.

4) Concentric Knuckle 

A design where you wrap the knuckle around your hand twice, both backward and forward. This increases the shock to your muscles as well as your bones when you punch with it.

5) Round Knuckle

A round knob with spikes coming off on all sides of it. This type is more popular in martial arts than any other but is also illegal in many places.

6) Box Knuckle

A cylinder or smooth cylinder that has spikes all around it to increase its strength and its ability to protect the hand when punched.

7) Spiked Box Knuckle

This spiked variation on the spiked brass knuckles design has a large spike right in front of the knuckle on all sides of the weapon.

8) Side Cylinder Knuckle 

A cylinder that starts just below your palm as well as one that is attached to your fingers. In martial arts, this is often used with a reverse punch.

9) Hammer Knuckle 

A fist-shaped piece of metal with a flat surface instead of a knob on top to strike people with. This type of brass knuckles is usually made from iron or steel, instead of the softer brass used in other knuckles for safety reasons.

10) Walking Stick Knuckle

A popular variation has a small knob hidden inside the walking stick. When you are not looking to attack someone, the knob is positioned towards your hand so that it hurts when gripped, but when you hit someone with it, the knob is facing away from your hand and won't hurt you.

11) Brass Knuckle Knife


A curved piece of metal that has a small brass knuckle knife on one side of the knuckle can be used to cut people when attacking them.

12) Double Knuckle

This type is a cylinder that wraps around two fingers instead of just one. This type is more common in martial arts.

13) Curved Saber Knuckle 

In these brass knuckles, there are both rounded and pointed edges on different parts of the knuckles which allow people to attack with both sharp and blunt objects.

14) Long Knuckle 

A single piece of metal that curls around your finger twice allowing for a larger surface area to attack with. This is illegal in many places because you can stab someone with it by wrapping the knuckle around your opponent's throat or arm.

15) Hook Hand Knuckle

A type of knuckles that look like your normal hand but where you hook two fingers through the other part making it larger and more effective in striking your opponent.

Benefits of Brass Knuckles

Brass Knuckles are considered dangerous weapons and can cause damage to your opponent. While many people argue that knuckles are not effective at all, there are some cases where a brass knuckle can save your life. This includes the event at the concert when someone pulls a purse from your hands and you instinctively grab something to protect yourself. 

If you have nothing else, then grabbing one of these is fine. These knuckles will give you an extra layer of protection with nowhere else to go if things get ugly. Your other option is fighting dirty and hitting them with their own purse (something they might have forgotten they were carrying). If you're someone who plans on playing in the underground scene, then you'll find that brass knuckles are a big part of your daily life. 

When you're walking through a rough neighborhood or are entering an unfamiliar building, putting these on is vital for your safety. There will be fights sometimes where people will try to take what's yours so having brass knuckles on hand can give you extra protection from these situations.

Brass knuckles are also used in self-defense classes. Instead of hitting somebody with something that might hurt them, these knuckles provide a safer alternative by giving off a lot less damage and still causing major pain. These knuckles are also great for training to become a fighter because of the way it feels when striking someone with them.

Dangers of Brass Knuckles

The dangers of brass knuckles have been making headlines in recent days, with police calling for a complete ban on the sale of these items. Serving no purpose other than to injure or kill others, these weapons are dangerous in the wrong hands.

As many people know, brass knuckles are used for self-defense and work by adding weight and power to a punch. They're often sold as a novelty item that may appear harmless but experts warn that it's easy to cause serious injury with them if used incorrectly. The problem is that although they can be bought legally in Canada, some models feature blades or spikes that make them illegal there too - and it's difficult for citizens not versed in weapon law to tell which is which.

While the idea of these weapons may seem rather innocuous, they are actually dangerous. Brass knuckles can easily cause serious injury to the hand or wrist and even lead to ruptured tendons or other permanent damage. Officers call this a "knuckle sandwich," when someone is punched with brass knuckles by accident and then the knuckles are applied to the attacker's face or head, causing a concussion or broken nose. 

As well, there have been instances where the police have received multiple reports of three people getting into fights and then one of them has been found with brass knuckles - with no one asking whether they were their own fist weapon that had fallen out of their pocket or bag.