Handedness (Oblivion)

Handedness refers whether a weapon is one-handed or two-handed.

One-hand
One-handed weapons are held in a single hand, in contrast to two-handed weapons. They generally do less damage, have lower reach and higher attack speed than their two-handed counterparts, but they allow for the use of a shield or torch in the other hand. Note that while a torch can be equipped with a two-handed weapon, the player only benefits from its effects while the weapon is not drawn.

As a side note, it seems that everyone in Cyrodiil is right-handed, including the player.

One-handed weapons

 * Governed by Blade
 * Dagger
 * Katana
 * Longsword
 * Shortsword
 * Governed by Blunt
 * Mace
 * War Axe

Two-hand
Two-handed weapons require the use of both hands to wield, making the use of secondary items such as a shield or torch impossible while the weapon is equipped and drawn. Two-handed weapons generally do more damage and have a longer reach, but they also have a lower attack speed.

Two-handed weapons

 * Governed by Blade
 * Claymore
 * Dai-Katana
 * Governed by Blunt
 * Battle Axe
 * Warhammer