Fish Skin Grips on British Swords?

Bryce · 13th July 2020, 12:11 AM

G'day Cathey,
I don't know when it was first used, but I can tell you there were two types used on British swords. In the 18th century the "ray skin" type with large nodules was commonly used. Below is a picture of a 1788 heavy cavalry officer sword with this type of grip. In the 19th century it was more common to use the close grained variety you show in your photo, although occasionally the "ray skin" type was also used. I have never been sure if both types come from different areas of the same type of ray, or if the close grained type is from a shark rather than ray.

Cheers,
Bryce

fernando · 13th July 2020, 11:39 AM

So, if i get it, a bit of a puzzle is the association of shagreen ( from Turc çagri = onager's back) with wfish (ray or shark) skin. While it appears (to me), that fish skin was used in European swords, in Asia was shagreen that was used in weapons like Japanese Nihontó and Chinese composite bows during the King dinasty, this being therefore quite a few centuries old fashion.

13th July 2020, 12:11 AM	#1
Bryce Member Join Date: Aug 2017 Location: North Queensland, Australia Posts: 189	G'day Cathey, I don't know when it was first used, but I can tell you there were two types used on British swords. In the 18th century the "ray skin" type with large nodules was commonly used. Below is a picture of a 1788 heavy cavalry officer sword with this type of grip. In the 19th century it was more common to use the close grained variety you show in your photo, although occasionally the "ray skin" type was also used. I have never been sure if both types come from different areas of the same type of ray, or if the close grained type is from a shark rather than ray. Cheers, Bryce Attached Images

13th July 2020, 11:39 AM	#2
fernando (deceased) Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Portugal Posts: 9,694	So, if i get it, a bit of a puzzle is the association of shagreen ( from Turc çagri = onager's back) with wfish (ray or shark) skin. While it appears (to me), that fish skin was used in European swords, in Asia was shagreen that was used in weapons like Japanese Nihontó and Chinese composite bows during the King dinasty, this being therefore quite a few centuries old fashion.