Aztecks in Close Combat Another Obsidion Claim to Fame

In a previous article, I have noted some modern day as well as ancient uses of the immensely spectacular obsidian stone.

Today I would like to share another historic example of the use of obsidian stone in everyday use of the Aztec people.

The Aztecs used the obsidian stone to make a very unique type of sword by imbedding multiple obsidian blades into a wooden baton like base, these obsidian blades were prismatic, and are deemed far sharper that the steel razor blades that we use in todays’ day and age, and more than that they were also capable of producing a deeper and cleaner cut when compared to the very same modern day blades. The Aztecks knew these swards as “macuahuit” and was the Close combat weapon of choice of most Azteck warriors. The obsidian used to produce these blades is a glasslike volcanic rock.

These Macuahuit swords were often made to the users specifications, and there was quite a few variations such as the swords either being made as with a single-handed grip which was a more commonly produced rendition. Then there was the two-handed grip, a much needed attribute to this sword that was produced to be as tall as a man. In some of the swords the obsidian blades were arranged in a spread out manner with gaps between these prismatic crystal-like blades and in other instances the obsidian blades were arranged in such a way as to create a single edged elongated blade.

The technique used by the Aztecks to create these enduring and destructive weapons, took a great deal of skill and ensured that the obsidian blades could not brake nor fall out. They were so well set that they could not even be pulled out even when deliberately trying.