Forget about swords and knives; the brass knuckles are weapons of the future. This innocuous-looking claw is one of the many useful inventions which are inspired by wildlife. The brass knuckles have innumerable uses in wilderness survival and urban personal protection categories. The pop culture has given us much inspiration about our favorite knuckle designs and the most effective moves to use them. But the facts and historically accurate information are often absent. To remedy that, swordsswords has brought you all the tidbits about brass knuckles you might wish to know!
The International Clout of Brass Knuckles
There are many nations in the world where the use of firearms and concealed blunt force trauma weapons is prohibited or illegal. Brass knuckles, on the other hand, are legal or semi-legal to carry in most of these territories. The United States of America believes in the right to bear arms and the mantra of “God, Glory, and Guns”. Therefore, the brass knuckles are quite the staple in the U.S. They are usually called “knucks” or “knuckle dusters”. This is inspired by the Australian and British monikers of the same tool. The Germans call these brass beauties “punch rings” which is an extremely apt description.
Sap Gloves is also a relatively lesser-known type of these knuckles. This type is usually enforced with lead sticks or powder. Those familiar with MMA will be intimately familiar with these gloves as boxers often use them illegally to get an upper hand on their opponent.
The “Caestus” from Rome
The origin of brass knuckles lies in the Holy Roman Empire from medieval times. While the form may be different, the modern brass knuckles and the Roman “caestus” have multiple similarities. The Caestus was a hand-covering or a leather glove with metal reinforcements. This knuckle protection was common during gladiatorial matches. The biggest difference between the caestus and the knuckle dusters lies in the functionality. While the modern dusters try to defend the wielder’s fingers and minimize damage to the self, the caestus inflicted maximum damage on the enemy. The oldest depiction of the cestus has many leather strips tied together over the back of the hand and used in fistfights.
The word “Caestus” comes from Roman Latin. It means a strip of various leather thongs bound over anything. With this definition, even a sword hilt with leather wrappings is a caestus. Metals parts such as studs and iron plates made this leather glove deadlier and more appropriate for close-quarter fighting. The addition of iron spikes over the knuckles also increased the ferocity of this weapon. The few most dangerous variations of this tool include myrmex “limb-piercer” and the Greek sphairai. The sphairai was not just reinforced with metal, it contained cutting blades over the knuckles as well.
The Asian Tekko and Ninja Knuckles
Just like Ancient Greece and Rome, the warrior cultures of China and Japan also employed the usage of knuckles from time to time. The knuckle was the last tool in a ninja’s arsenal as they signified close-quarter combat. The oldest Kobudo weapon “tekko”, is an ancient version of the modern brass knuckle. It originated in Okinawa, Japan. Back in the day, brass was not a readily available raw material. This is why the tekko consisted of wood, animal bones, or any available metal. The Shinobi of the ninjas from the Chinese and the Japanese territories used these weapons to build the forces of their strikes. They utilized the minimal points of contact on this tool to create greater tissue disruption. This caused torn muscles and broken bones in the opponent without much exertion by the wielder.
American Civil War
The use of brass knuckles remained consistent throughout history all across the globe. However, there are almost no mentions of this weapon in Muslim empires or the Sub-continent dynasties. The use of these gloves as essential weapons continued in the 1800s when the Civil War ravaged the American lands. The shortage of iron and other metals led the soldiers to create the knuckles from absolutely anything they could spare. This era gave a new life to brass knuckles as well as adoption in the American way of life. Interestingly, the presidential bodyguards also wore the Knuckle dusters during the Presidency of Abraham Lincoln. You can observe these historic real brass knuckles at the Ford’s Theater National Historical site.
Gangs of New York
The “Godfather” has given us all a glimpse into the Italian gangsters and the crime families dwelling in New York throughout the 1900s. The brass knuckles are an essential part of this story as they symbolized the “greasers” spreading terror in the hearts of innocents. The brass knuckles, along with stiletto knives became the trademark of this era and delinquent youth. Consequently, they were illegal in New York and the Tristate area in 1954.
Nowadays, the brass knuckles are a favorite brand symbol for the motorcycle gangsters and street thugs. The hip-hop and Rap culture have also propagated their usage and display. The pop-punk community uses them as accessories to pair with their rebellious outfits and lifestyle. The most creative brass knuckles innovations include rings, necklaces, belt buckles, cell phone cases, and even heels. Feeling inspired? Get your brass knuckles and customize them to your heart’s content.
