Don’t strike the initial blow from your right, if you are left-handed!

Hello fellow history enthusiasts and martial artists,

The above advice comes from the late medieval German Fechtbuch Hs 44 A 8. On folio 11v, the author offers general tips on how to fight in a duel between a right- and a left-handed combatant. Clearly, left-handed fighters were a historical reality—something also supported by the existence of certain complex-hilted Renaissance swords that can only be wielded in the left hand, like the one held by swordsman and archaeologist Ingo Petri in the image above. Such specialised designs are, in fact, much older.

Ergonomic tool design dates back to prehistory. Surviving wooden grips from Bronze Age sickles clearly show that adapting a tool’s grip to the user’s handedness is as old a concept as the tools themselves. Some examples include thumb rests designed specifically for right-handers—much like modern sport pistol grips—which would feel awkward or even unusable for left-handers.

What makes sense for everyday tools is vital for weapon design. A sword’s grip must support the connection between weapon and wielder, and has always received special attention. It is therefore unsurprising that, even in cultures favouring symmetrical designs, individual grips were optimised for their intended users. This is true for the oldest sword I have studied—a 3,300-year-old bronze weapon, unmistakably shaped for a right-hander—as well as for hundreds of later swords I’ve examined over the years.

Not all original swords still allow for a reliable ergonomic assessment. Nevertheless, I have compiled detailed documentation of around 70 swords from various periods, revealing that approximately 20% were made for left-handed use. That’s twice the rate of left-handedness in modern populations, suggesting that in violent confrontation, being left-handed may have been a distinct advantage. This theory is widely accepted today in martial competition and some sports. Alas, reliable historical data from pre-modern eras is rare—apart from my own observations and conclusions regarding historical swords.

This is why Dr Tim Simon from the University of Trento reached out to me, as mentioned in a previous newsletter. He is currently conducting a study on historical left-handedness, and during his preliminary research he came across my work. Last week, he visited me ahead of planned excursions to study sword collections. As he is not a sword fighter himself, he asked me to explain in detail what to look for. To better understand how subtle modifications influence the ergonomics and functionality of a one-handed sword, he tested various replicas from my collection. After a brief introduction, he quickly grasped the differences and appreciated their significance.

To build a statistically meaningful dataset, Dr Simon plans to focus first on Viking-era swords, as their relatively large pommels are well suited to documenting offsets. Other sword experts and archaeologists have recently confirmed my findings and expressed support for the hypothesis. I find this growing interest in the topic very encouraging and look forward to further research and insights.

If your interest in left-handedness is more personal and practical—perhaps because you are a left-handed fighter, or want to improve your skills against lefties in training—I recommend exploring the relevant lessons in our extensive I.33 sword-and-buckler online courses. Take a look at the curricula for free, and enrol now at a 15% discount:

• ​Course 1 – The Foundations​
• ​Course 2 – Mastering Schutzen/Cover​

You can put your skills to the test at the Ribe Bouts, 17th–19th October, and a month later at the Berlin Buckler Bouts, 22nd/23rd November 2025. More info soon.

Enjoy your sword summer!
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So, that's it for today. Take care, and keep your blade well-honed.

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Yours,

Roland

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