Moro Axe Panabas

dennee · 12th August 2009, 07:13 PM

The blade's curve could be intended to keep the hand away from the work---as with the handle of a broad ax (also with a beveled edge) used for hewing timber.

wilked aka Khun Deng · 13th August 2009, 09:47 AM

Rick or scratch,
Could you elaborate on the "rarest" comment. I'm unfamiliar with any panabas in this profile?

Dan

Gavin Nugent · 13th August 2009, 10:44 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by wilked aka Khun Deng

Rick or scratch,
Could you elaborate on the "rarest" comment. I'm unfamiliar with any panabas in this profile?

Dan

Hi Dan,

My Cato book is on loan at the moment but he notes this form in his book, someone should be able to site the images and passage in the book.

Gav

G. McCormack · 13th August 2009, 01:49 PM

Lovely piece!

The bend in the blade does not look intentional, but rather a result of use, just like the scars on the spine that come from hammering- as you might when using this to split wood. I'm sure the first owner more than once straightened the blade under his foot. This doesn't come across as a hewing tool.

Gavin Nugent · 13th August 2009, 01:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by G. McCormack

Lovely piece!

The bend in the blade does not look intentional, but rather a result of use, just like the scars on the spine that come from hammering- as you might when using this to split wood. I'm sure the first owner more than once straightened the blade under his foot. This doesn't come across as a hewing tool.

I'd bet a hundred there is no straightening this blade under foot, between floor boards or any other method. I'd be interested in hearing what the owner has to say though.
I'd be interested in knowing more of the measurements too.

Gav

Maurice · 13th August 2009, 02:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by freebooter

Hi Dan,

My Cato book is on loan at the moment but he notes this form in his book, someone should be able to site the images and passage in the book.

Gav

Cato page 91.
Photo 56

Lew · 13th August 2009, 03:37 PM

Nice example but IMO this is more a Agricultural tool for field work of food preparation and not a true panabas

Lew

Rick · 13th August 2009, 04:26 PM

Hi Lew, I could agree with you .
The only thing that puts me off the tool idea is the blade profile; it looks inefficient for field work .

We can see the abuse the spine has suffered so I'm sure it was used as a tool at some point .

On the other hand; for melee combat it would make a great slashing chopper; not to mention that point .

Lew · 13th August 2009, 07:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rick

Hi Lew, I could agree with you .
The only thing that puts me off the tool idea is the blade profile; it looks inefficient for field work .

We can see the abuse the spine has suffered so I'm sure it was used as a tool at some point .

On the other hand; for melee combat it would make a great slashing chopper; not to mention that point .

Rick

I really don't think this is a melee weapon the blade is quite thin and it does not much of a reach. The damage to the spine is from batoning probably used it to pound the blade through rattan or some other woody/fiberous material. I can just see the face on the owner on this piece when he confronts another Moro warrior charging at him with a long kris or kampilan.

migueldiaz · 13th August 2009, 02:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by wilked aka Khun Deng

Rick or scratch, Could you elaborate on the "rarest" comment. I'm unfamiliar with any panabas in this profile? Dan

Dan, at the Hayes Museum, there's a similar panabas with this description:

Object Name: Ax
Other Name: Panabas
Catalog Number: 1934.706.1

Description: hand-held ax (often refered to as a borong); leaf-shaped blade, thickens on top and narrows towards bottom, and is heavy; handle is wood and has numerous rinds carved into it from middle to top; bottom half is split down the middle (by design) to accommodate the hidden hilt of the blade and held together by four metal bands, one corroded silver and the three botttom ones brass; end cap has ”WP 54” written in black ink; top part of handle side has unreadable marking sticker;

Date: 1900
Dimensions: L - 20.866 inches
Material: wood; metal;
Event: Philippine Insurrection

Provenance: Panabas brought back from the Philippines by Webb C. Hayes

Notes: # 6 in display case; part of a collection of weapons and assorted items Webb C Hayes brought back from the Philippines. According to Ron Zambarrona [Zambarrano], a collector and historian of Moro weapons, this is a rarest form of a Panabas, a smaller version, which is often mistaken for an ax.

Collection: Webb Cook Hayes

The panabas below as described above also appeared in this thread.

13th August 2009, 09:47 AM	#2
wilked aka Khun Deng Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Oahu, Hawaii Posts: 166	Rarest Rick or scratch, Could you elaborate on the "rarest" comment. I'm unfamiliar with any panabas in this profile? Dan

12th August 2009, 07:13 PM	#1
dennee Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: College Park, MD Posts: 186	The blade's curve could be intended to keep the hand away from the work---as with the handle of a broad ax (also with a beveled edge) used for hewing timber.

13th August 2009, 01:49 PM	#4
G. McCormack Member Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Tallahassee, FL Posts: 131	Lovely piece! The bend in the blade does not look intentional, but rather a result of use, just like the scars on the spine that come from hammering- as you might when using this to split wood. I'm sure the first owner more than once straightened the blade under his foot. This doesn't come across as a hewing tool.

13th August 2009, 03:37 PM	#7
Lew (deceased) Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: East Coast USA Posts: 3,191	Nice example but IMO this is more a Agricultural tool for field work of food preparation and not a true panabas Lew

13th August 2009, 04:26 PM	#8
Rick Vikingsword Staff Join Date: Nov 2004 Posts: 6,336	Hi Lew, I could agree with you . The only thing that puts me off the tool idea is the blade profile; it looks inefficient for field work . We can see the abuse the spine has suffered so I'm sure it was used as a tool at some point . On the other hand; for melee combat it would make a great slashing chopper; not to mention that point .