3rd November 2022, 07:40 PM | #1 |
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Barong, Panabas, or something else.
I just acquired this item and I'm not quite sure where it fits in. Somewhat barong-shaped, but much heavier, with a double beveled 12" blade,3" at its widest, & 3/8" thick at the base of the spine. It has an 8" handle.
The sheath is very crude(much more so than the weapon/tool), and it was probably wrapped with a single binding of rattan and in this manner, it reminds me of the kampilan breakaway scabbard. |
3rd November 2022, 10:30 PM | #2 |
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Cato shows similar examples as an uncommon form of panabas. Yours looks to me to be more of a tool than a weapon, in which case it may be a form of tabas.
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3rd November 2022, 11:45 PM | #3 |
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Just out of curiosity, what do the marks on the spine signify; I often find them on various panabas.
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4th November 2022, 01:56 AM | #4 |
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Formally, they call this "badi" among the Maranao, and distinctly different from tabas. It's used for utility purposes nowadays.
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4th November 2022, 02:08 AM | #5 |
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They are placeholders so that the people involved in making the sword (smith, artisans) can plan and approximate measurements for the other parts attached to the blade. They're not counted as talismans.
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4th November 2022, 03:29 AM | #6 |
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Can you direct me to some other examples of a "badi," on the internet, so that I can compare mine to those?
Thanks for telling me what those marks are for; it had been driving me crazy for years. Do sword makers, tool makers still use them? |
4th November 2022, 11:22 AM | #7 | |
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Quote:
AJ blade reviews Facebook page, featuring postwar badi https://www.facebook.com/photo/?fbid...74344347155173 Personal page, with a provenanced 1960s badi https://www.facebook.com/rikidiz/pos...eLCbN3NEES4cCl The other samples are either in private webpages or groups, but if you need more pics or screenshots, just let me know, I can send them to you. Regarding the /X/, yes it's still used nowadays by craftsmen both in Mindanao and Sulu. In my experience, it's commonly seen at the following areas: 1. Base of spine, to indicate the area just before the tang 2. The base or forward-facing parts of the asang-asang 3. Metal binding parts of the hilt, or sometimes even the scabbard |
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4th November 2022, 01:00 PM | #8 |
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The one on Facebook was stunning! Thanks again.
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