SCALES WHY?

I was just on another site finding out how to use Polymer clays and was asked the question, [ Why are the handles of a straight called SCALES ? ]
I could not answer that. :confused:
HELP elighten me so I may enlighten them.

Origins of the term scales can be fuzzy, but my understanding is that it is in reference the facade scales. A reference to a time when beauty started to push into the functional items of human history. To make an item functional yet pretty they would apply a scaling or plating to an item. This quickly led to knives.

I don't know but in the 1970s when I began collecting pocket knives the "handle" inserts , stag, bone or whatever, were called scales. :shrug: Could it be the reference comes from the skin on a snake ? Dunno.

Maybe it refers to seashells, like an oystershell a razor has two scales with something in the center of them (oyster -> blade). (Mother of pearl scales)

Or an old scale used to weigh stuff consisted of two identical sides.