Sharkskin is the material of choice for swords to this very day; one had only to hold a sword at the carry for a half-hour on a hot summer day to appreciate it. You will also require fine braided silver wire; if your swords are like most of that period, the wire is used to keep the sharksin in place and assist in maintaining a good grip. Contact Major Andre Levesque, Governor General's Foot Guards, in Ottawa, Canada, at (613) 244-5300 x3372. He can put you in touch with sword cutlers such as Wilkinson Sword in Sheffield and the Solingen manufacturers in Germany. Harry Needham