Grips on German bows - why?

[Terry McDougal]

Originally Posted by Ken Smith

Who, me? Hey, I play French Bow. I have no clue what you German bow players do.. sorry..

No worries Ken, I'll run with this one.
Violin, viola and cello all use a bow that could be described as a French bow. Its shape is the standard shape for the three higher pitched instruments so I guess that features of these bows could easily find their way onto double bass bows. The German, or Butler, bow seems to predate the French, so maybe early bow makers just carried on the tradition, from bows for other string instruments, of putting on a leather grip? They must have wondered what use it would be - perhaps some players in those early days held the German bow like a French bow? Any violin players who switched to bass would tend to do this. There again, maybe early bow makers just thought the leather grip was a cool look?