That is one beautiful sword Richard,
As far as I have seen, the only sword types I have known with liners have been full or half basket hilts.
I have never seen a hilt of your type with any evidence of liner. It is not a world away from a walloon style hilt, and all that I have seen are unlined.
The only other type of cushioning protection I know of in sword hilts from this period is ricasso wrapping, usually in velvet, for sideswords or early rapiers, given that one or two fingers around the ricasso are necessary for use.
All the best,
Macdonald
|