[Jim McDougall]

Thats great Norman!!! I very much appreciate that! Im hoping to get together some sort of collective base of info on these, as for those few of us interested the references are hard to get, and even then answers are hard to find.
best,
Jim

Your excellent example, especially with unique blade, is an unusual form of Glasgow hilt, with the S element in place of shield. While often these types of elements have had attempts to distinguish them as representing 'Stirling' or even, 'Scotland, which is far too patronizing...they are noted as simply decorative shapes.
The page is from "Culloden: The Sword and the Sorrows" , which catalogues items of the 1996 exhibition.

The second from "Scottish Swords and Dirks" John Wallace, 1970, p.24 shows an example with interesting apparently earlier form with this feature as in second half 17th c. This suggests the development of these hilts likely further back than the turn of the century and that the Glasgow style pierced shields style likely began c 1680s-90s? being well evolved by the turn of the century into early years of 18th.
The 'S' would appear to be a carry over from the earlier hilts and likely among Glasgow's regional hammermen.