How long have Englanders been using knuckle-dusters for deburring?

When UK police officials found a knuckle-duster (or brass knuckles) in a man's car after stopping him on suspicion of drunk driving, the man claimed the weapon was used for deburring in sheet metal work.

Now, there may be many differences between how we do things in the U.S. compared to our brethren across the pond, including their seemingly random deviations on the spellings of words such as gray (grey), digitization (digitisation) and airplane (aeroplane). But sheet metal work seems to be pretty cut and dry no matter what country you're working in. Or so we thought.

The Hucknall Dispatch reports:

Nigel Greensmith was stopped in his car on suspicion of drink driving, on Southwell Lane, Kirkby, at 6 a.m. on May 24, when the item was found.

Michael Little, mitigating, said the knuckleduster was made by a work-mate and was used to "de-burr" the sharp edges of metal sheets.

"People are being sent to prison for these offences, and he is very conscious of that," Mr Little said.

Mr. Greensmith was fined £300 (about $330) for the weapon, and the knuckle-duster was forfeited and destroyed. However, if the weapon really was fabricated by a workmate, Greensmith should have no problem getting his hands on another so that he can continue his deburring duties.

Emell Derra Adolphus has more than a decade of writing and journalism experience. He is senior editor of ENR’s Top Lists and Survey Rankings at ENR magazine and frequently contributes stories on technology, climate resiliency, diversity, equity and inclusion.