Brass knuckles

 are a form of simple weapon used in hand-to-hand combat. Developed in antiquity, this weapon is nevertheless quite prevalent in the post-Great War wastelands.

Despite the colorful name, "brass" knuckles are typically made from stainless steel, and take the form of four linked rings in a shallow convex formation with a bumper attached to the concave face. The rings are slipped over a combatant's fingers with the bumper pressed into the palm of the hand. When a punch is thrown, the brass knuckles take the majority of the impact impulse, transferring much of the punch's kinetic energy to the target by way of the harder, smaller impacting surface of the metal knuckles. This drastically increases the likelihood of serious tissue disruption and bone damage.

Realistically, while properly fitted brass knuckles can prove quite an asset in a brawl, improperly fitting brass knuckles can easily break the user's fingers or cause severe bruising and edema in the fingers and palm. In terms of a wasteland weapon, however, a set of brass knuckles, while little better than nothing, can nevertheless provide a combat edge.

A variant of this weapon, Spiked Knuckles, are essentially brass knuckles with spikes welded to the apex of each finger ring. Predictably, spiked knuckles are capable of causing more severe injuries.

Standard


A set of regular brass knuckles.

There are two unique variants in Fallout 3; the Steel Knuckles and a cut set called Love Tap.

Pointed


While not strictly Spiked Knuckles, the brass knuckles in Fallout Tactics do have points on them.

Kastet