Fish Skin Grips on British Swords?

Jim McDougall · 12th July 2020, 05:48 PM

It seems to me that the use of rayskin (often termed shagreen in Europe) was likely derived from grip covering styles used in Eastern Europe in 17th-18th c.
Most well known were the Tatar sabres known as 'ordynka' which often sported this grip covering in the 17th c. using rayskin ( described in "Origins of the Polish Saber, Jan Ostrowski, 1979).

British military were considerably influenced by Eastern fashions and may have adopted use of rayskin via their contacts with these forces as allies in various circumstances. British basket hilts of 17th-18th c. are seen with this grip cover as shown.

Earlier use of rayskin as a grip cover than 17th c. is unclear, but as it had Asian foundation likely carried into Tatar spheres, it seems possible use in Chinese context may have been earlier.

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12th July 2020, 05:48 PM	#3
Jim McDougall Arms Historian Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Route 66 Posts: 10,585	It seems to me that the use of rayskin (often termed shagreen in Europe) was likely derived from grip covering styles used in Eastern Europe in 17th-18th c. Most well known were the Tatar sabres known as 'ordynka' which often sported this grip covering in the 17th c. using rayskin ( described in "Origins of the Polish Saber, Jan Ostrowski, 1979). British military were considerably influenced by Eastern fashions and may have adopted use of rayskin via their contacts with these forces as allies in various circumstances. British basket hilts of 17th-18th c. are seen with this grip cover as shown. Earlier use of rayskin as a grip cover than 17th c. is unclear, but as it had Asian foundation likely carried into Tatar spheres, it seems possible use in Chinese context may have been earlier.