Huge panabas for comment

VVV · 8th June 2005, 04:05 PM

I received this Panabas last week.
It's 96 cm/38 inch long and was quite rusty so I have started to clean it.
When I look in my reference books I can't find the blade form in any of them. The blade looks almost like a Parang Pattani, without the spike?
Do you think there has originally been brass in the holes?

All comments appreciated.

Thanks,

Michael

Spunjer · 8th June 2005, 06:58 PM

that's a monster alright. how thick is the spine closest to the hilt?

VVV · 8th June 2005, 08:23 PM

It's 5 mm. Almost the same all the way to the bend and after that it is less wide.
The equilibrium is 2/3 from the hilt before the bend.

Michael

Conogre · 9th June 2005, 03:33 AM

I may well be wrong, but this seems to have an Indonesian feel to it, with the patterning in the blade seeming inconsistant with othre Moro panabas.On the other hand, my giant kampilon blade has two inlaid silver dragons facing each other on each side that have an almost Thai flair tro them, and I suspect that the blade may well be 18th century, so don't rule out a Moro piece.
Another very nice and interesting piece....very nice find!
Michael, a question, if I may...are the holes on one side only or do they go all the way through?
If the latter, often bronze or steel rings went through them, sometimes with bells or other items attached.
Mike

VVV · 9th June 2005, 06:42 AM

Thanks Mike,

The holes go all the way through.

Michael

tom hyle · 9th June 2005, 01:10 PM

Looks like a panabas to me. The engraving is pretty typical and similar to work still being done; not sure how far back the style of work goes, but someone else probably knows. Were rings and such used on panabas? I'd though that was more a mainland thing? Maybe there was silver in the holes; something more worth someone's while to take out?

8th June 2005, 04:05 PM	#1
VVV Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Sweden Posts: 1,637	Huge panabas for comment I received this Panabas last week. It's 96 cm/38 inch long and was quite rusty so I have started to clean it. When I look in my reference books I can't find the blade form in any of them. The blade looks almost like a Parang Pattani, without the spike? Do you think there has originally been brass in the holes? All comments appreciated. Thanks, Michael Attached Images

8th June 2005, 06:58 PM	#2
Spunjer Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Witness Protection Program Posts: 1,730	that's a monster alright. how thick is the spine closest to the hilt?

8th June 2005, 08:23 PM	#3
VVV Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Sweden Posts: 1,637	It's 5 mm. Almost the same all the way to the bend and after that it is less wide. The equilibrium is 2/3 from the hilt before the bend. Michael

9th June 2005, 03:33 AM	#4
Conogre Member Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Clearwater, Florida Posts: 371	I may well be wrong, but this seems to have an Indonesian feel to it, with the patterning in the blade seeming inconsistant with othre Moro panabas.On the other hand, my giant kampilon blade has two inlaid silver dragons facing each other on each side that have an almost Thai flair tro them, and I suspect that the blade may well be 18th century, so don't rule out a Moro piece. Another very nice and interesting piece....very nice find! Michael, a question, if I may...are the holes on one side only or do they go all the way through? If the latter, often bronze or steel rings went through them, sometimes with bells or other items attached. Mike

9th June 2005, 06:42 AM	#5
VVV Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Sweden Posts: 1,637	Thanks Mike, The holes go all the way through. Michael

9th June 2005, 01:10 PM	#6
tom hyle Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Houston, TX, USA Posts: 1,254	Looks like a panabas to me. The engraving is pretty typical and similar to work still being done; not sure how far back the style of work goes, but someone else probably knows. Were rings and such used on panabas? I'd though that was more a mainland thing? Maybe there was silver in the holes; something more worth someone's while to take out?