"Brass knuckles" iPhone case

OK, they're not brass, they're aluminum. Knuckle Case for iPhone (Thanks, Kelly Sparks!)

David Pescovitz is Boing Boing's co-editor/managing partner. He's also a research director at Institute for the Future. On Instagram, he's @pesco.

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http://www.jjsaul.com Jim Saul

Does it come with an App that measures acceleration and deceleration to impact?
- hymenopterid
  
  If you exceed a certain threshold it could dial a lawyer.
jimh

Pretty sure it’s not going to be legal in CA. Or on an airplane either.
relawson

I love how knuckles are marketed as paperweights or belt buckles:

http://www.selfdefenseproducts.com/Novelty-Knuckle-Paperweight-p-16707.html
http://www.empiredefense.com/Knuckle-Buckles/Black-Color-Heavy-Belt-Buckle.html

… and it magically makes them OK to sell.
- jimh
  
  I know! Until you have one in your pocket, at say, an Occupy rally. Or in your car, or anywhere a police might take notice. Then that paperweight becomes a real liability, at least in CA.
  - relawson
    
    Exactly!
    
    “But Officer, I have my receipt here that says its a paperweight!!”
    
    I’m sure that’ll work.
  - relawson
    
    From the knuckles case site, I wonder if using it as a paperweight or belt buckle would void the warranty? haha!
    “This product is to be used only as a handle and protective accessory for an iPhone. Any other use of the product is considered a misuse, resulting in the forfeiture of any express or implied warranty of fitness for purpose. By purchasing this product, you agree to hold the Company harmless for any misuse of the product, which results in damage to yourself or third parties.”
    - jimh
      
      One of the comments on the site is by someone who says he got locked up for his “belt buckle”, and wonders if this could lead to the same thing… Well, duh?
http://www.creaturesoflight.com dagfooyo

Brass knuckle questions aside, seems like this case would make the iphone nearly unusable. If you put either hand through the knuckles either way you can’t use that hand to manipulate the phone and it’s blocking your other hand from doing so. If you try and hold the phone outside the knuckles it’s equally awkward. The only thing this case would help with (other than punching people) would be keeping your grip on the phone when making calls – and even then your hand would kind of be in the way.
- http://www.disoriented.net/ angusm
  
  Worse, it looks to me as if putting your fingers through the holes would lead to you putting pressure on the screen with either your palm or your fingertips, possibly causing you to break the screen if you try to punch someone.
  
  On the plus side, this might be a useful deterrent against violence: “Well, I could punch this guy, but then I’d need a new screen. Maybe it’s better if I just walk away.”
http://www.facebook.com/people/Es-See/100003058581326 Es See

Thats ok, while this is on kickstarter making money everyone with a CNC can just go make their own out of real brass! I cant wait for boing boings stupid recap on this when the cute wears off and you have to write an article about the TSA and one of your silly boisterous endorsements
CSBD

At least its not a Aluminum Brass Knuckle Watch from Watchismo
eldritch

Specific Gravity of Brass – 8.56
Specific Gravity of Aluminum – 2.64

You’re not gonna be doing much damage with aluminum knuckles. They just aren’t dense enough. Strong and flexible, sure. But the point is to add weight to the blow. Brass was used because it’s cheap and denser than iron or steel. Aluminum is about as dense as most types of stone. It won’t break as easily, being far less brittle, but you’d almost do as well with a pair of granite, glass, or solid asbestos ones.

Oddly enough, probably one of the better materials for this kind of weapon would be solid gold or platinum.
- Stu_Por
  
  *kryptonite
  - jimh
    
    Asbestos Knuckles = Punk Band Name of the Day
- Agrajag
  
  Adding weight to the blow is one function of brass knuckles. Another is to shift the force of impact (for the puncher) across the palm instead of directly into the metacarpals, which allows the puncher to punch harder while mostly eliminating the risk of wrecking the 4th and 5th metacarpals (though it does increase the risk of dislocating the thumb somewhat). There are lots of perfectly serviceable knuckle sets out there made of various plastics. Ergonomics are as important as weight and density. But that said, the “brass” knuckle iPhone case does look a little useless on all fronts. I wonder what it does to reception.
Mister44

One of the game companies sent out thousands of brass knuckles to promote a game. Only they found out what they did was illegal in most states and asked for them back.

I think brass knuckles are illegal most places. Maybe if you have a CCW license you can get a pass. But I think they were demonized along with switchblades when they were made illegal.

Really good phone case though. Perfect for people dropping shit all the time.
noah django

if you punch someone with this, your iphone is going to break. I admit it looks cool as hell, though. probably the best use out of this case is better hand-holds and something to loop a neck or belt lanyard through.

>my face when a set of brass knuckles is part of my everyday-carry