" Macuahuitl" Topic

"Aztec warriors wielding macanas (macahuitl), which are oak swords or clubs fitted with rows of obsidian blades. Aztec warriors used these weapons to slash, inflicting long bleeding wounds, or sever, as when they decapitated a mare Cortés's party brought.

Cortés did battle with thousands of Aztec warriors during his campaign of exploration in Central America. They were a fearsome people from warrior societies based around two predators – the eagle and the jaguar. Many dressed in the image of these animals to terrify enemies. Warriors could only join these societies if they had captured enemy soldiers or become renowned as great warriors through the rank and file of the Aztec military. Their weapon of choice was the macuahuitl sword, a club-like weapon with obsidian blades sticking out of the ends, which the warriors would use to beat their victims to death…"
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Amicalement
Armand

Obsidian is volcanic glass and is so sharp it is used in surgery today. To say the weapon was used to "club" an enemy to death is belied in the illustration above by all that extremely sharp black obsidian.

It was an enhanced war club. I have read that the obsidian (or often flint) blades tended to come loose after one or two really good whacks, leaving the warrior fighting with a club. Clubbing an unhelmeted enemy worked pretty well. Wooden warclubs were widely used in the Americas, continuing in use even after Europeans introduced metal hatchets.

If you take into account that the idea was to take your enemy prisioner for then to be Sacrificed… using a club have sense… (smile)

Amicalement
Armand