Knuckle Tattoos

Chongo Ongo sent these knuckles in. They are on his friend Phil. Stories like this are what I love about this project. Next time I’m up in Fort Worth, I’m buying you guys a drink. This is what Phil has to say about his knuckle tattoos:

Throughout life, I have always dealt with tough situations using humor. When I was diagnosed with kidney failure years ago, the doctor told me how it would go down. I have always thought the word gimp was kinda funny, and then I sort of was one. I got the “GIMP GRIP” knuckles with the handicap symbol for the “G” because I knew as my condition got worse, to me, the tattoo would keep getting funnier and would always be appropriate. The blue was color-matched to the blue in the handicap parking sign. The knuckles were done by TROLL at The Salty Dog Tattoo Shoppe in Fort Worth, TX. The “LAME” leg was done by Bear at the same shop.

- PHIL

Hey Shane! I’m finally getting your knuckles up on the site! All it took was your artist sending them in. Here is what Philip has to say:

My name is Philip Corbin, I tattooed “STIL HERE” on Shane Watkins knuckles because after 14 years of tattooing in Austin, Texas he’s still holding it down, and he’s STIL HERE! I feel honored he picked me to do them! WORD SON!

Artist: Philip Corbin
Collector: Shane Watkins
Shop: Atomic Tattoo 309 W MLK. Austin, Texas

Thanks for sending those in Philip, Shane and I would have just talked it to death.

You guys know about as much as I do on this set. They were sent in by Michael Dupuis who said that they were done by William at Imago Tattoo in Montreal in early 2004.

Oddly this is the first set of LOVE HATE knuckles we’ve received here at knuckle tattoo central. Jackie from Boston, MA sends us these classics. It’s the story of the left hand, right hand, but here is what Jackie has to say about his set:

I feel both of these emotions all the time. And im sure everyone in they’re lives have felt love or hate it just suits me.

New Wave Dave is slowly learning that life is OK. Or he is ready for anything:

TAKE ON ME, as in the song, the a-ha song. One of the first albums I ever bought was a-ha’s Hunting High and Low, and for ages I would fall asleep to the a side. It is my all time favorite album, and in 2003 I got this knuckle tattoo. My sister is a tattoo artist and I had her do them.

If people recognize the song they usually find it funny, if they don’t they usually ask if I am a boxer. So I find the response interesting.

Hey y’all, I found Caleb here in the Rio Rita, one of my favorite watering holes in Austin. He was really nice and sent in his story and picutre:

My homeboy David Wofford did it for me. I just had to buy him a couple Sparks first. Why did I pick SOUTHERN? Charlie Daniels said it best man…”‘Cos I ain’t askin’ nobody for nothin’, if I can’t get it on my own. And if you don’t like the way I’m livin’, you can just leave this long-haired country boy alone.”

I spent last weekend at the Lonestar Rod & Kustom Round Up soaking up the sun talking to people, and admiring all the amazing cars and trucks. There was music, vendors, pinstripers, artists and more types of pomade than you can shake a stick at. But most of all for me, there were tons of beautiful knuckle tattoos. Check them out after the jump: