If you are a fan of weapons, especially weapons that are used for close combat such a knives and swords, then you probably happen to know a bit about the infamous ‘brass knuckles’. ‘Brass monkeys’, ‘knuckle dusters’, ‘an English punch’; these are all names and terms given to the classic weapon, the brass knuckles.

During the American Civil War, from the time period of 1861-1865, the brass knuckles were a weapon that soldiers would use as an aid for self-defense purposes. If in the circumstance of close range combat, which much of the civil war took place, the soldier would strap these knuckles to their own, when they punched the target, a simple blast could result in devastating effects.

Brass knuckles were made from basically whatever material the soldier had at hand. This often resulted in soldiers carving molds of wood to place on top of the knuckles. With these molds, soldiers could punch for instance somebody right on the hard part of the head causing no harm to themselves. Normally if one did this without brass knuckles on, they would have a very high chance of breaking their own hand. With the brass knuckles however, the molded knuckles are placed over top the actual knuckles themselves creating a sort of shield for the knuckles. A punch with these knuckles could be very dangerous. Because of this, brass knuckles are illegal and banned in many countries around the world.

For hundreds of years, brass knuckles have been used as a mean of self-defense, have took many shapes. The harder but lightest material is the best for brass knuckles. The brass knuckles have become such a controversial topic in the weapon world as the legality issues and what not, that they have become a symbol of their own. The dangerous brass knuckle image is a provocative and well sought after idea for a tattoo. Below are examples of the brass knuckle tattoo designs, placement, and symbolisms.