The macuahuitl has become one of
the defining military symbols of ancient Mexico. Constructed from hardwood,
usually oak or pine, the weapon resembled a broad paddle or sword club with
grooves carved along its edges.
. . .
Unlike a European steel sword
designed for repeated impact against armor or metal weapons, the macuahuitl excelled
at slashing exposed flesh. . . . Spanish chronicles frequently emphasized the
cutting ability of these weapons . . . Even if exaggerated, these reports
reveal the psychological effect Indigenous weapons had on European invaders who
initially underestimated them. (Gael Santana Marquez, Obsidian and Steel: A
History of Blade Culture in Mexico [Chicago: Of the Books, Books, 2026], 8-9)
