RAZOR BLADE SWORD DAMAGE TEST (Maquahuitl/Leiomano: Scariest Weapons Ever)

About this video

ZNA tests modern recreations of ancient weapons—a Makaweedl (inspired by Aztec obsidian blades) and a Lamano (inspired by Hawaiian shark-tooth weapons)—by replacing traditional materials with utility razor blades and striking prepared targets combining steak and watermelon. The Makaweedl proves sturdy with clean cutting power, while the Lamano fails to produce the desired effect of blades dislodging and lodging in targets despite multiple attempts on different materials. The episode explores material behavior under stress and the challenges of translating ancient weapon design into improvised modern builds.

Key takeaways

• Testing assumptions matters: ZNA expected blades to dislodge from the Lamano but discovered they were too well-secured, teaching the value of pre-test predictions versus real-world results
• Material properties determine outcomes: Razor blades snap rather than bend under stress, limiting design possibilities and requiring different engineering approaches than the original shark teeth
• Durability versus performance are separate challenges: A weapon can be both devastatingly effective and mechanically sound, but that doesn’t mean it achieves all intended design goals
• Iterative testing with varied targets provides better data: Switching from steak to cantaloupe revealed different material behaviors and stress patterns on the weapon’s attachment points

Episode details: published January 22, 2016 · 1.3M views · 5:37 long. Summary written by Self Growth Videos from the episode itself. ZNA’s builds are his designs and experiments, covered here as commentary on the engineering ideas — Self Growth Videos does not publish build instructions, and his weapon-style projects should not be replicated.

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