[Jim McDougall]

As expected, Calvert (1907) had nothing specific to Jineta swords, and the illustrations shown are of 'Hispano-Moresque' forms as termed by him . These are also termed Nasrid with reference to the Muslim dynasty of Granada 1232-1492.
This 'jineta' form is typically seen as with downturned quillons, often heavy and elaborate extending along upper part of blade, with pommels spherical or other singular shapes, not lobated.

It seems that the trilobate pommel on this French knights sword may be a holdover from the Frankish swords which of course prevailed through the Viking era, and are seen in variation on most Viking associated hilts. One reference notes that 'Frankish' swords typically had pommels of 3 to 5 rounded lobes in their pommels. While these gave way to the variations of brazil nut, tea-cosy etc of knightly swords of Middle Ages, in the Iberian Peninsula the elaborate Nasrid (jinete) type hilts became familiar.

I looked through "The Archaeology of Weapons" (E.Oakeshott, 1960) and while he thoroughly classified pommel types into what has become the guidelines for descriptions used, this trilobate form is not mentioned.
Type M however has the 5 lobed type listed as 1100-1325, and noted as the last survival of the 'Viking principle' of the lobed pommel (above lower guard).
This of course alludes to the 'Frankish' style noted of 3 to 5 lobes.

I read through "Two Swords from Gibraltar", David Nicolle (Gladius XXII, 2002, pp.147-200) which decscribes two swords of 12th c. found in "Martins Cave" by an archaeologist in 1867. These are noted as representative of the Islamic swords of Andalusian and Maghribi warriors of the 12th c. and both have hilts with spherical pommels and only slightly downturned quillons.

While Berber mercenaries brought their styles of arms and tactics to the Andalusian peninsula in the 11th and 12th centuries these precluded the defined 'jineta' styles etc. which apparently fully evolved much later.

The Nasrid swords with elaborate hilts and significant downturned quillons are actually derived from Ottoman and Mamluk sword hilts of 13th 14th c.

This tri lobed hilt on the French sword we are discussing does seem to be somewhat of an anomaly, as I went through the entire volume of line illustrations in the comprehensive "Arms and Armour of the Crusading era 1050-1350" David Nicolle, 1988, and cannot find any corresponding example.

As far as comparison to Nasrid (jinete) forms, the only thing close is the sword of St.Ferdinand of 13th c. which has a pommel which is somewhat trilobate in what has been termed a maple leaf shape. (see attached, #601).

With the description by Helmut Nickel, my only suggestion toward the comparison to Chinese influence would be the trilobate patterns seen in Tibetan swords' pommels, which could only tenuously compare to this triple SPHERE pattern. I cannot say I am familiar with any such type pommel in Chinese hilts, however the 'three' element is important in most of the major religion dogma.