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1959.10.2

Steel knuckleduster with four finger holes and a bar for the palm of the hand. [SM 23/04/2007]

On display

1959.10.2

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Collection type
Object
Description
Steel knuckleduster with four finger holes and a bar for the palm of the hand. [SM 23/04/2007]
Cultural groups
English
Date / Period
Date made: 1800-1899
Date collected
1922
Acquisition information
Donated: 1959
Materials and processes
Material Steel Metal, Process Cast
Dimensions
Width: max 66 mm, Length: max 96 mm
Object numbers
Accession number: 1959.10.2
Research and responses

The following notes are drawn from research compiled by Andy Mills as part of the DCF Cutting Edge project in 2006-2007.

Knuckledusters have a very long history in Europe, and metal-studded leather caestus were used by gladiators in Roman times. This pair of steel knuckledusters, probably English, and marked with the maker’s mark T.C., are of the classic late-19th or early-20th century kind. Knuckledusters are very simple weapons, and it is quite easy to see the rationale behind their construction in these examples; the rings cover, harden and protect the finger-bones, provide a basis for studs, which harden and focus the force of the blow, and the bar allows the force of the punch to be conveyed through the palm and heel of the hand, rather than the fingers themselves. Such weapons make the fist considerably more dangerous, and historically it was not uncommon for a single blow with such a weapon to fracture the jaw or skull, and knock the opponent out cold.

As a consequence of the explosion of street violence after WW2, the Prevention of Crime Act (1953) was passed, giving police officers the power to arrest anyone suspected of carrying an offensive weapon, and classifying a range of artefacts as illegal offensive weapons.

In that this pair of knuckledusters was transferred to the PRM from the OUMNH in 1959, it seems possible that the recent illegality of the weapon was discovered by OUMNH staff, and it consequently transferred for curation alongside the PRM’s other offensive weapons. [El.B 26/02/2008]

Search terms: Weapon, Knuckleduster Ring

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