A few questions about Brass Knuckles

A character concept I'm working on involves brass knuckles. The problem is, they're illegal in my state, so I know pretty much nothing about them.

My main questions; How are they used? How does one hold them, and how does one alter their punching technique to accommodate them?

How does one store them when not in use? Holster? I had an idea for a magnetic strip attached to ones belt, that the knuckles could be attached to when not in use, but this seems convoluted in retrospect, not to mention the metallic composition of knuckles themselves...

Thanks in advance for your informative responses

"The only way to truly waste an idea is to shove it where it doesn't belong."

Brass knuckles are actually difficult to use and quite uncomfortable in the bargain. Also, most sets one is likely to come across (at least in a modern real-world environment) are going to be cheap and badly made.

That said, getting hit with any metal object is no picnic; we're talking concussions and cracked skulls here. Sure, the guy throwing the punch isn't going to be happy but his target is like to be considerably less so.

Without knowing more about the setting or the situation that's really all I can say.

EDIT: Just caught your comment about composition...most modern "brass knuckles" are made from mild steel...basically pot-metal. Also, no one really makes a "holster" for them...people just carry them in a pocket. There's also "sap gloves", which are leather gloves with sacs of powdered lead in front of the fingertips *

, but those are pretty rare. One could make a home-made set without too much difficulty however.

edited 20th May '12 1:20:29 AM by drunkscriblerian

If I were to write some of the strange things that come under my eyes they would not be believed. ~Cora M. Strayer~

Allegedly one of the reasons 'working class thugs' in Britain wear lots of rings, especially Sovereign rings, is you have a set of 'knuckles' to hand, as it were, but you can say "Weapon, officer? No officer, these are presents from my family.". Plus designs leave a mark, the sort of people who they punch aren't the kind who get the police involved, and leaving a bruise with your initials (backwards) in really sends out a message.

If the person is the kind of person to wear lots of jewelry then you can describe the rings at various points, without revealing it's purpose until he hits someone.

Do the job in front of you.

[[Simple Answer]]

Using them is easy. Put them on and punch. That's it.

[[Long Answer]]

Using brass knuckles will be discussed later, as the Brass Knuckle itself needs a little explination.

Holding the Brass Knuckles will depend largely on the style and quality in general. I've seem some there were basically lumps of metal with fingger holes and some that were works of art.

The shape of the Brass Knuckles is key. Is it the right size for your hand? Is is weighed as heavy/light as you like? Is the grip comfortable for you? (A rubber grip or padded finger hold/rings is a good feature.) It using it a hassel free experience or do you risk manggling your hand with each hit? (A key feature I look for in a GOOD pair of Brass Knuckles is that they transfer as much of the force of the punch to my palm as possible. You can hit harder with less fear of dislocating finggers that way)

How about the striking surface? Is it wide or narrow? Spiked or a plain bar? Does it have a special shape (basket, single point, etc.)? Stubbed or (as mentioned above) has a unique bass/relief design?

How is it connected to the grip? Does it go between finggers or above/below grip?

Is it adjusted to maximize the alignment between the point of contact and the hand as it normally strikes or do you have to adjust/twist a bit to avoid sprains?

These a few things to consider before getting Brass Knuckles.

NOW on their use.

Put them on and punch.

Hehe, seriously though, I don't know what kind of Brass Knuckles you plan to have and what you intended (asides from the obvious) to do with them and to who or why.

The best "general" advice I can give to you on their use is to be ready for the slight change in the weight/speed of your punch and try to keep a firm (but not tight) and secure grip on it at all times.

A popular technique for Brass Knuckles (And similar gauntles style weapons) is to measure your blows. As satisfying as just punching at full force at all times is, its tiring and not the best use of style.

Hit the opponent just a bit beyond your normal "reach" in the sense that upon impact, you should feel no (or very little) impact, as you "throw" your punch via the Brass Knuckles and pull them back along with the recoil.

Properly executed, you can deliver maximum trauma with the weapon doing most of the work and your hands and breath benefiting in the long run.

BTW.

I have not heard of anyone using a magnet to hold brass knuckles to a belt before. Its probably not done for a reason (likely impossible with current technology.)

edited 20th May '12 3:41:59 AM by Natasel

Magnetising your knuckles? If they're a custom job? Heck, no: you'd risk losing them too often.

Think how often some office magnets fall off when people graze the laminated notices going past, and you'll work out why. Belts involve way too many positional changes, as well as contact issues.

Harold Jenks wrote extensively about brass knuckles in his book "Invisible Weapons of the Modern Ninja". Problem is, Jenks was a self-professed expert writing a book published by Paladin press; so there's at least a 50% chance he just made shit up as he went along. Since I've never seen a "fact" from his book verified by an independent source, I'm inclined to believe the coin landed tails on this one... but I'll relay the information to you, and let you judge it's veracity.

According to Jenks, there are two kinds of brass knuckles, heavy, blunt knuckle dusters, and lighter, spiked models; he refers to them as "knockers" and "pros", and says the two carried together are called "a set of pros". He provides that they aren't used at the same time; rather, loan sharks and enforcers carry both, and use one as appropriate. Knockers are your typical brass knuckles; worn over the fingers high up near the knuckle, they're used with exactly the same motion you'd throw a normal punch, and can easily kill. Pros are used to send a message, and the punch is modified; they're worn farther down next to the second finger joint and used in a glancing, raking motion to maim and disfigure.

Jenks recommends that knuckles be carried at the waistband, tucked behind the belt; the whole for the index finger is left protruding to draw them by.

Let me check again... no, that's about all he says. Most of his chapter on the subject consists of photo plates of him demonstrating the stuff I just said. You can check find a pdf of the book online; that's where I found my copy.

edited 20th May '12 4:46:43 AM by SuperHeroineAddict

Another TL:DR post.

Like anything else, knuckledusters vary in quality. The cheap ones are basically just pieces of metal with loops. The good ones, like other high-quality weapons, are perfect machines of carnage.

Generally speaking, you have to widen your fingers a little bit; you aren't making a fist so much as holding something tightly. A good set will also minimise the damage done to your knuckles by transferring the impact force to a larger, tougher area IE. your palm. As for striking with them, I'm pretty sure that's obvious enough that you can figure it out.

You just carry them in your trousers, no holsters.

Mura: -flips the bird to veterinary science with one hand and Euclidean geometry with the other-