Macuahuitl

Macuahuitl
A modern recreation of a ceremonial macuahuitl
Type	Macuahuitl
Place of origin	Mexico
Service history
In service	Pre-classic to Post-Classic period (900–1570)
Used by	Aztecs, Mayans, Purépecha, Mixtecs
Wars	Spanish conquest of the Aztec Empire, Aztec expansionism, Mesoamerican Wars
Specifications
Weight	2.0–3.0 kg
Length	90-120 cm
Blade type	straight, thick, double-edged, tapered
Hilt type	Double-handed swept
Scabbard/sheath	unknown
Head type	Trapezoidal
type	Straight, wood covered by leather

A macuahuitl ([maːˈkʷawit͡ɬ] (singular)) is a wooden sword with obsidian blades. The name is derived from the Nahuatl language. Its sides are embedded with prismatic blades traditionally made from obsidian, famous for producing an edge far sharper than even high quality steel razor blades.

The weapon was used by many different civilizations in Mesoamerica including the Aztec (Mexicas), Mayan, Mixtec and Purépecha. The macuahuitl was the standard close combat weapon together with the Tepoztli and the long range spear thrower Atlatl. This weapon was used also during the campaigns of the Spaniards in Mexico by their Tlaxcalan allies.

One example of this weapon survived the Conquest of Mexico; it was part of the Royal Armoury of Madrid until it was destroyed by a fire in 1884. Its original design survives in diverse catalogues, among them the macuahuitl created by the medievalist Achille Jubinal in the 19th century.

The maquahuitl (Nahuatl: mācuahuitl, other orthographical variants include maquahutil, macquahuitl and māccuahuitl), a type of macana, was a common weapon used by the Aztec military forces and other cultures of central Mexico, that was noted during the 16th-century Spanish conquest of the region. They also used other implements such as the round shield (chimalli [t͡ʃiˈmalːi]), the bow (tlahuītōlli [t͡ɬawiːˈtoːlːi]), and the spear-thrower (atlatl [ˈat͡ɬat͡ɬ]). It was the only "sword" with ceramic material in its edges, only comparable with the modern ceramic knife. It was capable of inflicting serious lacerations from the rows of obsidian blades embedded in its sides, which could be knapped into blades or spikes, or in a circular fashion that looked like "scales" It is sometimes referred to as a sword or club, but it lacks a true European equivalent, perhaps it is best described as a with a cutting edge.