Fists

 is a primary weapon slot in Red Dead Redemption, which allows the player to strike with their fists. This type of unarmed combat involves basic punching, blocking and ground tackles.

Each time someone is knocked down (and stays down for a few seconds) from a fist fight it counts as a knock out.

Even if the enemy gets knocked down multiple times they can still get up and fight. It is unknown how many times a player needs to knock someone down in order to kill them or knock them permanently unconscious (if at all possible).

Fighting ordinary citizens with your fists wont result in any loss of honour; it also won't give you a bounty.

Overview
Press the Right Trigger (Xbox 360) or R2 (PS3) to punch and the right bumper (Xbox 360) or R1 (PS3) to block. When an opponent has been worn down enough you can initiate a ground tackle with Y (Xbox 360) or Triangle (PS3) where you shoulder tackle your opponent and then you can sit on his chest and pummel him.

Achievements

 * Fightin' Around the World : "Knock someone out in melee in every saloon in the game in Single Player."

Trivia

 * Fightin' Around the World Achievement is probably reference to southpark season 6 episode: "The new Terrance and Phillip Movie Trailer" where on tv there is a show named "Russell Crowe : Fightin' Around the World".
 * In Multiplayer Competetive mode lobbys just before the game people have taken to beating each other senseless before the match. Needless to say this can be fun or annoying. It's really a matter of preference