Different Styles of Brass Knuckles
- The most common style of brass knuckles are forged out of aluminum, brass or some other alloys. One side is formed with four open loops, designed to fit loosely around the fingers. The inside on the form is curved to fit squarely and comfortably into the palm when the fingers are clasped. The outer ring over the knuckles generally is flat and smooth, or may have four raised burrs or pavilions to maximize damage when striking.
- Ring style brass knuckles are designed to look like two rings on the index and middle finger only. These are used in conjunction with a proper striking technique, which is landing the first two knuckles onto the target. These brass knuckles are small but optimize the damage from a properly executed strike.
- Spiked brass knuckles are deadly weapons, and may be illegal in some locations. These knuckles often have four to six screw holes for different sized sharpened metal spikes, or may have fixed spikes of at least one inch or greater in length. These weapons are designed to kill or maim an opponent, as the strike will cause puncture wounds when landed on the opponent's body.
- Jeweled brass knuckles are based on the frame of the common style brass knuckles, but feature raised jewels that mimic a hand wearing four large rings. These are designed to hide the weapon, or make wearing the weapon appear discreet. Some of these brass knuckles are worn as fashion jewelry, and can be made out of solid platinum, gold or silver and are not intended for defensive or offensive use.