Brass knuckles are illegal fighting tools that enhance punching power. They are made of a solid piece of metal with open loops that fit around the fingers and a curved end that fits in the closed palm. They require a different punching style and are often used with a spinning punch. They were originally developed as handles for military knives and are now banned in most countries.
Brass knuckles are illegal fighting tools designed to enhance the wearer’s punching power. In a typical fight, participants form a fist by dragging their fingers across the palm and pressing the thumb against the index finger. The flat portion between the knuckles and the first finger joints forms a weapon solid enough to strike an opponent.
The problem is that the fingers are often locked in the fleshy part of the palm at the moment of impact and the punch loses most of its power behind the strike. Brute force can still win the fight, but there is usually some serious damage to the punch hand.
Enter brass knuckles. A typical set of brass knuckles is formed from a solid piece of metal: aluminum, brass, or another alloy. One end is formed by four open loops that fit loosely around the fingers. The other end forms a curve that fits perfectly in the closed palm. When a fighter places his fingers in the rings and lets the curved end nestle into his palm, the result is a much tighter punch. The fingers cannot be driven into the palm and the metal grip provides additional weight. This is a distinct advantage against an unarmed opponent.
Throwing a punch while wearing brass knuckles requires a different style than the normal forward strike. Fingers may be broken if the punch connects directly. Fighters who use brass knuckles often use a spinning punch with a grazing strike. This protects the fingers and causes more damage to the opponent. Contrary to popular belief, brass knuckles themselves cause only secondary damage. The idea is to increase punching power to the punch, not to be a weapon in and of itself.
Brass knuckles were actually developed as handles for military knives. Spies and other special forces carried knives with finger holes in the handle. This feature gave greater force to a thrusting motion with the blade. If hand-to-hand combat was required, the handle doubled as brass knuckles. This self-defense technique eventually made its way into the civilian world, but the results were so bloody that weapons were almost universally banned. Possession of a pair of brass knuckles or similar tools to increase punch is a criminal offense in most countries.
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