SCALES WHY?

**paco** · 04-14-2010, 03:50 PM

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.

HELP elighten me so I may enlighten them.

**deighaingeal** · 04-14-2010, 04:11 PM

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.

**JimmyHAD** · 04-14-2010, 04:12 PM

I don't know but in the 1970s when I began collecting pocket knives the "handle" inserts , stag, bone or whatever, were called scales.

Could it be the reference comes from the skin on a snake ? Dunno.

**JohnDee** · 04-14-2010, 05:15 PM

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)

**Lazarus** · 04-14-2010, 06:40 PM

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

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