Is "Scales" a Misnomer?

I dunno. I believe I picked up the term "covers" from Eric, not GEC. And once I learned it, I have often used it. To my mind it's a nicety. But I don't worry if someone else uses the term "scales". The only time I worry is if I can't figure out what the other fella is talking about.

Sometimes I just avoid the whole issue and say, "That is one FINE looking knife."

YMMV.
 
knarfeng said:
I dunno. I believe I picked up the term "covers" from Eric, not GEC. And once I learned it, I have often used it. To my mind it's a nicety. But I don't worry if someone else uses the term "scales". The only time I worry is if I can't figure out what the other fella is talking about.

Sometimes I just avoid the whole issue and say, "That is one FINE looking knife."
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I picked it up on The Porch too Frank, along with cap-lifter, and can-opener :) I use 'covers' away from the forum too, but I do get some quizzical looks :)

I was looking through Mike Robuck's Gun Trader's Guide to Collectible Knives last night. It's a great book, full of beautiful photographs, and I recommend it highly. It was only published in 2014, so relatively recent. There's a knife diagram included with 'handle' used, and in the glossary, both 'covers' and 'scales' are referenced, but 'scales' is used throughout the book, including in the profile of leading custom traditional knifemakers, which originally appeared in Knife World. I guess that imprecise old-fashioned word is not in danger of disappearing anytime soon ;) :thumbsup:
 
Jack Black said:
I picked it up on The Porch too Frank, along with cap-lifter, and can-opener :)
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Jack, I was racking my brain trying to think what else you would call a can-opener. :confused: Then I googled it and remembered that what we call "cans" in the US -- at least the kind that require a can-opener -- are called "tins" in the UK. :D

I had also never heard the term "cap-lifter" before frequenting The Porch.

Regarding the topic of the thread, I don't have any expertise or historical documentation to add, but will say that, prior to frequenting this forum, I don't think I would have used the term "scales" or "covers" and would've just called 'em "handles."
 
btb01 said:
Jack, I was racking my brain trying to think what else you would call a can-opener. :confused: Then I googled it and remembered that what we call "cans" in the US -- at least the kind that require a can-opener -- are called "tins" in the UK. :D

I had also never heard the term "cap-lifter" before frequenting The Porch.

Regarding the topic of the thread, I don't have any expertise or historical documentation to add, but will say that, prior to frequenting this forum, I don't think I would have used the term "scales" or "covers" and would've just called 'em "handles."
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LOL! Yes, that's it my friend :) It took me a long time to discover that cap-lifter was far from ubiquitous in the US, and that many US posters had been just as puzzled as me! :D Thanks for taking part in the discussion Barrett, great to have your input :) :thumbsup:
 
Jack Black said:
LOL! Yes, that's it my friend :) It took me a long time to discover that cap-lifter was far from ubiquitous in the US, and that many US posters had been just as puzzled as me! :D Thanks for taking part in the discussion Barrett, great to have your input :) :thumbsup:
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I find language fascinating, so this thread has been a fun read. Before frequenting the Porch, I'd never heard the term "covers", though it isn't hard to understand in context what is meant by either that or scales. I tend to think of "handle" as the whole not-the-blade end of the knife, but what do I know? :)

I'd never heard the term "cap-lifter" either, I assumed it was either a regional thing or a deliberately quaint term.
 
Jack, Jake, and All Posters,

I continue to be amazed at the responses to my original post. The history, original sources, and educated opinions contained in the posts are of the highest quality. Thank you.

As some compatriots have said, in my earlier "pre-knife life", I would've simply called them "handles". Then I drank the Kool Aid, joined the fray, and picked up the term "scales". Then recently I wondered if I'd been wrong all along and "covers" was the way to go---hence my OP.

On top of a knife history lesson from the best, what I most appreciate from this thread is that I can now soldier on, calling those slabs of knife pulchritude "scales", as I have been (thanks, Jack---habits die hard in old men), or "covers" (with strong domestic support), or even "handles, if I'm feeling like a civilian. And if anyone challenges my choice, I will direct them to this thread, insist that they read it start to finish, and get back to me! :D:thumbsup:

Thanks again to all,

Andrew
 
Handles, scales, covers...... Steve Pfeiffer uses the term "handles" throughout his Case book. "Covers" does sound kind of cool though...but "handles" is certainly as descriptive and less confusing to most folks.
 
Here's what I've learned about this subject through working in the knife business, and I apologize to those who have already read my posts on it elsewhere on this forum; the scales are the parts of the handle that are in contact with the blade tang. This includes any type of cutlery, not just pocket knives. Razors, butcher knives, household knives, sheath knives, hatchets, etc all fall under this category. So if you've got a company who manufactures "scales", they likely cover all of the above implements in their description. In the case of a traditional pocketknife, the scale is the liner, be it bolstered or shadow. The liners with bolsters attached are the bolster scales. On multi blade knives you also sometimes have a center scale as well. Now whatever material is attached to these scales is the handle or cover material. Both terms are used interchangeably in the shop. They're NOT scales in this case because they're not in contact with the tang, they're another layer added to the EXISTING scales. In the case of knives without liners, the scales are whatever makes up the part of the handle that's in contact with the blade tang, be it a sterling or german silver haft on a pen knife, celluloid or ivory on a straight razor, rosewood on a full tang chef knife, etc.
I'm quite certain that these terms have been used in this context for quite some time in the industry, it just makes it easier for the folks in the shops to keep things straight. I've known a number of old timers from Schrade who helped to explain it to me, and a couple of them started out in the 1930's. I'm sure they also learned from folks who they considered old timers, many of whom were old Sheffielders.

Eric
 
ea42 ea42 , Great post Eric! Thanks for weighing in! It would certainly be beneficial for everyone in a manufacturing environment to use the same terms. We could have some funny looking knives if that weren't the case!
 
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