This kind of sword-handedness argument reminds me of a similar argument for deciding the directionality of spiral staircases: > Spiral staircases were a clev

This kind of sword-handedness argument reminds me of a similar argument for deciding the directionality of spiral staircases: > Spiral staircases were a clever defence in medieval > castles. They were almost always built with the spiral > in the same direction (clockwise, when looking up from > the bottom) so that the defending swordsman, who would > either be coming down the stairs or backing up in > reverse, could freely swing his sword. Conversely, the > attacking swordsman (ascending the stairs) would have > his swing blocked by the wall. > This, of course, assumed that both attacker an defender > were right-handed, which most were. http://www.thejanuarist.com/clan-kerr-and-the-legend-of-the-spiral-staircase/ http://www.thejanuarist.com/clan-kerr-and-the-legend-of-the-... (there's a little more discussion there about left-handed swordsmen and left-handed spiral staircases!)