Show us your Maguindanao panabas

[xasterix]

Greetings, in the tradition of the other "show us..." threads, was curious how many members have panabas. To start off, here's mine. 17-inch blade, 14.5-inch handle. There are geometric patterns on the handle that provide a secure grip. Thickest part of spine is 0.5 inches or 1.27 cm. Looking forward to seeing more panabas, TIA!

[kai]

Hello Xas, that begs the question: How do you differentiate between panabas of Maguindanao vs Maranao origin? Thanks in advance!

Regards,
Kai

[xasterix]

Hello Xas, that begs the question: How do you differentiate between panabas of Maguindanao vs Maranao origin? Thanks in advance!

Regards,
Kai

Hello Kai,

To my understanding, panabas is endemic to the Maguindanaons- the Maranaons don't produce it, except for tourist versions which can be differentiated by its over-intricacy, both in blade and fittings. The Maguindanaons even up to the present time retain knowledge of the panabas and the terms associated with it- warfare, duelling, execution, etc. In period pics, it was always the Maguindanaon datus who used kris, kampilan, and panabas as badges of office.

Hope this clears up things.

[kai]

Thanks, Xas, that makes things easier! ;)

BTW, Cato does mention Maranao names for panabas parts - so, these would be later adapted or spurious? No need to dwell on the modern repros, indeed...

Regards,
Kai

[kai]

To start things off, here a few examples I'm currently taking care of:

(Pics courtesy of Gavin & Oliver)

[Interested Party]

Are these related to what Van Zonneveld called "stick swords" from Flores?

[xasterix]

Thanks, Xas, that makes things easier! ;)

BTW, Cato does mention Maranao names for panabas parts - so, these would be later adapted or spurious? No need to dwell on the modern repros, indeed...

Regards,
Kai

Hi Kai, the probable reason for this is because the Maranao and Maguindanao language are closely linked together; they come from the same root. The Maranao made tourist versions of the panabas, but up to present time, the Maguindanao pandays still make the 'real' panabas for agricultural use. It's a no-frills and usually smaller version of the old panabas, direct to the point.

[xasterix]

Are these related to what Van Zonneveld called "stick swords" from Flores?

Hi sorry, I'm not familiar with the names and context you mentioned- can you provide me a link or short summary? Thanks.

[Ian]

Are these related to what Van Zonneveld called "stick swords" from Flores?Hi IP:

I don't think there is a direct link or a particular association between the two. The panabas as a weapon is thought to be derived from an agricultural tool known as a tabas--the two coexist today. This more basic tool seems to be an item found in various parts of Asia, being basically a long curved axe for chopping. I have seen similar tools in northern India and mainland SE Asia (e.g., Thai pra). It is possible that "stick swords" in the Malay world were derived from similar agricultural implements in their respective cultures. In Europe, long-bladed glave are probably another example of an agricultural tool of this general type finding its way into armories.

[Rick]

A Stick Sword or Toa from Solor.

[Mefidk]

Here's mine. Interested to see what you knowledgeable folks think of it.

[kai]

Hello Chris,

Nice one! (Let me know whenever you decide to let it go... ;))

It sure does look like it was ready for a spike; seems it was originally intended without a spike though. Any hints from close examination?

Regards,
Kai

[Mefidk]

No indication that it ever had a spike, looks like it was made this way. The blade is heavy duty, 1cm thick at the base - I would definitely not like to be in the way of anyone swinging this!

Are the copper filled holes common decoration on these?

Best,
Chris

[xasterix]

No indication that it ever had a spike, looks like it was made this way. The blade is heavy duty, 1cm thick at the base - I would definitely not like to be in the way of anyone swinging this!

Are the copper filled holes common decoration on these?

Best,
Chris

Agreed, would hate to be on the receiving end of that! Uncommon decoration IMO, I've only seen 4 so far with that inlay, yours is the 4th. Great piece!

[kai]

I believe there are a couple of examples in the archives - some in the now defunct UBB forum though. Certainly not common but usually similar to decor on kampilan.

Regards,
Kai

[Sajen]

Nice examples so far gentlemen! :)
Here are my both examples, both are padsumbalin panabas, one big and a small one. The big one I don't have at hand but will receive it soon back with cleaned blade.

Regards,
Detlef

[Sajen]

And I have this small one but only the blade, the handle which comes with it isn't the original one, it's a small one as well.

[kino]

Here’s a couple more to add.

[Battara]

Here is a picture of my padsumbalin panabas that was documented in Cato and was stolen years ago from me. The bands are nickel-silver.

[Battara]

Here is my current padsumbalin panabas with steel bands and okir butt.

[Battara]

And here is my bading panabas with okir edge. Bands in copper with a silver strip around the end.

[Ian]

No indication that it ever had a spike, looks like it was made this way. The blade is heavy duty, 1cm thick at the base - I would definitely not like to be in the way of anyone swinging this!

Are the copper filled holes common decoration on these?

Best,
ChrisHi Chris.

Not very common to see brass inlays on panabas and, as Kai noted, the same inlays occur on a minority of kampilan too. I'm not aware of any specific significance of brass dots on these weapons. Some of our Filipino members might be able to help.

Interestingly, inlaid brass dots appear on Lumad blades as well, especially on T'boli tok. Again, I don't know about their significance either.

[Ian]

And here is my bading panabas with okir edge. Bands in copper with a silver strip around the end.Hi Jose,

Nice blade with carving on the end. This is now the third or fourth one of these I have seen, so yours is not alone. Any thoughts about the significance of this style variant?

As an aside, I have a very nice little Vietnamese or Malaysian chopper that is about 16-18 inches long and would pass for a miniature panabas (hilt is not typical thought). It has similar scalloped carvings to the end of its blade.

Ian.

P.S. Found a picture (not very good one) of that chopper.

.

[Interested Party]

Hi sorry, I'm not familiar with the names and context you mentioned- can you provide me a link or short summary? Thanks.

Xas, this is the little bit I know. It is from "Traditional Weapons of the Indonesian Archipelago." Pictures 525 in particular and 526 somewhat reminded me of the panabas so I thought i would ask the experts.

Ian thank you very much for the explanation. It helped.

[Ian]

Hi IP,

Thanks for showing the van Zonneveld pictures and text. I've taken the liberty of scanning the figures to try to get a clearer image. Afraid the original pictures are not very good.

Ian.
.

[kai]

Here's another example of the long version from eastern Flores; from handling, these are more akin to a kampilan (with the longer hilt compensating for the shorter blade). The blades were usually/often imported from SE Sulawesi and no hints seem to be extant suggesting any direct link with the Moro traditions.

Regards,
Kai

[kai]

There also was the notion that the panabas might be related to a family of bent blades from Borneo (buko, latok, pandat, sadap, tangkin). However, these exhibit pretty different handling characteristics and construction details; moreover, these were dedicated war swords while the panabas is widely acknowledged to have agrarian roots.


I don't think there is a direct link or a particular association between the two. The panabas as a weapon is thought to be derived from an agricultural tool known as a tabas--the two coexist today. This more basic tool seems to be an item found in various parts of Asia, being basically a long curved axe for chopping. I have seen similar tools in northern India and mainland SE Asia (e.g., Thai pra). It is possible that "stick swords" in the Malay world were derived from similar agricultural implements in their respective cultures. In Europe, long-bladed glave are probably another example of an agricultural tool of this general type finding its way into armories.
I'm with Ian in believing that many of these developments were local and that it needs very close similarities to suggest any adaptation from other cultures. There always have been migrations and other cultural influences. However, with blacksmithing already present for about 2 millennia throughout much of the archipelago, any common ancestor will often be very hard to establish.

Regards,
Kai

[Interested Party]

Sorry for the bad picture. I had lighting issues and was more interested in presenting the text. When I looked at the originals with a jeweler's loop 526 appeared to have a Indonesian or Sumatran style pamor. 528 had a cloudy line down the longitudinal center of the blade with a light towards the cutting edge and a dark side towards the spine. I can't tell if it is a lamination mark or a differential temper.

Thank you all for explaining the ancestry of these weapons. Am I correct in assuming that they occupied similar places in the relative martial traditions as heavy choppers? I would imagine that given proximity these are cultures that had some contact with each other. I have been noticing that posted examples have very little edge damage. Does this mean that there was little blade to blade contact in this martial arts system, i.e. no or few parries, or are surviving examples ones that did not see use?

[kino]

Sajen, what are the dimensions of your Panabas with the blue background?


Here is a picture of my padsumbalin panabas that was documented in Cato and was stolen years ago from me. The bands are nickel-silver.

Battara, where is this Panabas documented at, Cato’s book or Arts os Asia magazine?

[Sajen]

Sajen, what are the dimensions of your Panabas with the blue background?


Hello Albert,

This small panabas was once discussed here: http://www.vikingsword.com/vb/showthread.php?t=24794&highlight=panabas

It's 55 cm (21.65") long, blade is 31 cm.

Regards,
Detlef

[Rick]

Sorry for the bad picture. I had lighting issues and was more interested in presenting the text. When I looked at the originals with a jeweler's loop 526 appeared to have a Indonesian or Sumatran style pamor. 528 had a cloudy line down the longitudinal center of the blade with a light towards the cutting edge and a dark side towards the spine. I can't tell if it is a lamination mark or a differential temper.

Thank you all for explaining the ancestry of these weapons. Am I correct in assuming that they occupied similar places in the relative martial traditions as heavy choppers? I would imagine that given proximity these are cultures that had some contact with each other. I have been noticing that posted examples have very little edge damage. Does this mean that there was little blade to blade contact in this martial arts system, i.e. no or few parries, or are surviving examples ones that did not see use?

The small panabas pictured here has quite a bit of edge damage and a bullet wound to boot.

[drac2k]

Here are four of my favorite panabas,(panabi ?).

[kai]

Hello IP,

Sorry for the bad picture. I had lighting issues and was more interested in presenting the text. When I looked at the originals with a jeweler's loop 526 appeared to have a Indonesian or Sumatran style pamor. 528 had a cloudy line down the longitudinal center of the blade with a light towards the cutting edge and a dark side towards the spine. I can't tell if it is a lamination mark or a differential temper.
Figs. 525 and 526 as well as my example from post #26 are typical blades from SE Sulawesi. The steel tends to be of good quality and the crafted pamor may be basic, sometimes quite blotchy laminations to twistcore or other exquisite pattern welding. Due to the long hilt, the not very heavy blades are quite agile (at least compared to the pade and even belida blades which tend to be heavier).

Those axe-like blades from Solor/Adonara seem to be quite plain and probably locally crafted from imported steel.


Thank you all for explaining the ancestry of these weapons. Am I correct in assuming that they occupied similar places in the relative martial traditions as heavy choppers? I would imagine that given proximity these are cultures that had some contact with each other.
Don't underestimate the tropical distances though; some cultures were much more landlocked than others. There was an extensive trade network operated by seafaring cultures for times pretty much immemorial. OTOH, many local peoples traveled rarely if ever.


I have been noticing that posted examples have very little edge damage. Does this mean that there was little blade to blade contact in this martial arts system, i.e. no or few parries, or are surviving examples ones that did not see use?
Many of the groups are so remote/small/etc. that hardly anything is known about their genuine MAs in the ol' days. Moreover, we need to be extremely careful with any generalisations, especially considering the extreme diversity.

However, it seems to be true that direct blade to blade contact is usually much more avoided than in medieval and later Europe; binding is not a common strategy.

Edge damage is certainly not rare though with many old blades; however, the edges are usually keen and well maintained during active service. You usually see the effects of constant sharpening, etc. At some point, old blades get either worn down and recycled or retired into more ceremonial usage. TLC over extended periods tends to obscure signs of prior use.

Regards,
Kai

[kino]

Here are four of my favorite panabas,(panabi ?).

Drac2k, gorgeous Panabas’. First one I’ve seen with a centipede / millipede.
Thanks for sharing.

[drac2k]

Thank you Kino; I posted it earlier under the title of "Unusual Panabas," which has detailed pictures if you care for a closer look.

[xasterix]

Thanks for the samples everyone- just caught up with all the posts now. I'm really interested regarding panabas varieties because it's my personal theory that each panabas type is suited for a specific purpose- like there are panabas that are hybrid (all-rounder), fighting-only, and ceremony-only. But so far all the panabas in this thread look potent!

[Battara]

Hi Jose,

Nice blade with carving on the end. This is now the third or fourth one of these I have seen, so yours is not alone. Any thoughts about the significance of this style variant?

Ian.

Not as sure but my thoughts are that this belongs not to a datu but to a higher ranking person within a datu's retinue. Thus the reason for the carved end, copper bands, and silver strip on the hilt.

I also wonder if this is a form of fighting panabas for a high ranking warrior under the same datu.

[Battara]

Also Drack2, since the first time you posted your beautiful panabas (which one day you will donate to me, right? :D ) I found out that the centipede motif is sign of dangerous power and in tattoo form or engraved empowers the person or weapon with it.

[drac2k]

Okay, it's on the bucklist; now I just have to figure out how I'm going to tell my wife that I will be getting a centipede tattoo to go with my panabas.

[Sajen]

I have been noticing that posted examples have very little edge damage. Does this mean that there was little blade to blade contact in this martial arts system, i.e. no or few parries, or are surviving examples ones that did not see use?

Hello IP,

The one on the blue background I've shown in post #16 has a lot of nicks at the edge.

Regards,
Detlef

[Sajen]

Here are four of my favorite panabas,(panabi ?).

Hello Drac2k,

Stunning panabas, the one with the centipede! :eek:

Regards,
Detlef

[drac2k]

Thank you Sajen as I like both of yours as well, especially the shorter one; I looked closely at your panabas in a previous post of yours, and the designs with the segmented body and a stylized mouth also reminded me of a centipede. What do you think?

[Sajen]

Thank you Sajen as I like both of yours as well, especially the shorter one; I looked closely at your panabas in a previous post of yours, and the designs with the segmented body and a stylized mouth also reminded me of a centipede. What do you think?

Hello Drac2k,

Never thought in this direction but with some imagination this could be indeed a stylized centipede.
What think other members?

Regards,
Detlef

[Battara]

I looked closely at your panabas in a previous post of yours, and the designs with the segmented body and a stylized mouth also reminded me of a centipede.

I too hadn't thought of that, although I have never seen any research of how Maguindanao and Maranao okir would be used for making a centipede. I do think it is a possibility. Among the Igorots like the Kalinga, Tinguian, and possibly the Bontoc, even half a stylized geometric centipede still represents a centipede and it's potent power.

[carlos]

Another example more ...

[mross]

Decided to a jump in on this and add to the reference photos.

[RobT]

Hi All,

Here are my two. The haft on the Padsumbalin appears to have been taken from a hatchet. There is a small, round, copper token (stamped 343) attached to the haft. A former item from military stores that found a home in civilian life perhaps? The blade is a bit loose in the haft (especially in winter) and it may have had an additional steel ferrule at the very top.

Sincerely,
RobT

[xasterix]

Here are four of my favorite panabas,(panabi ?).

Very nice samples! I've noticed that panabas with short handles and long blades tend to be older. I've seen a couple of references pointing to 1800s as the era by which these short-hilted beasts proliferated- while for early 1900s onwards, the panabas evolved to be more proportionate in terms of hilt : blade measurements.

[xasterix]

The small panabas pictured here has quite a bit of edge damage and a bullet wound to boot.

What an elegant sample Rick!

Sorry I couldn't help but notice the barung on top- does that have a clipped upper edge?

[xasterix]

Decided to a jump in on this and add to the reference photos.

Nice panabas! I'm inclined to think the two larger ones are about the same age as mine. I've not encountered the small one that much, but I read somewhere else in this forum that it's supposedly an older version. There were reproductions of it that have been sold in Mindanao until the 90s.

[Rick]

What an elegant sample Rick!

Sorry I couldn't help but notice the barung on top- does that have a clipped upper edge?

No, not clipped Xas. :)