This is an absolutely excellent topic Neil, and thank you for posting it, as well as welcome to the forum!
I think Fearn's suggestion's are very well placed, and make good sense pragmatically as these large rings did lend well to these kinds of uses.
It seems the ring pommels extend well back into ancient China, and it seems there is other literature on rings on swords in European use as well. With these circumstances there are often symbolic applications, and it would be good to look further into that.
I know I'll be doing that later before I write more, but wanted to welcome you and say I very much appreciate you posting this.
All best regards,
Jim
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