Show us your Maguindanao panabas

[Ian]

Originally Posted by Interested Party

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]

Originally Posted by 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

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

[Ian]

Originally Posted by 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

Hi 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.

[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?

[Rick]

Originally Posted by 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?

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 ?).

[kino]

Originally Posted by drac2k

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.

[Sajen]

Originally Posted by drac2k

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

Hello Drac2k,

Stunning panabas, the one with the centipede!

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?

[xasterix]

Originally Posted by drac2k

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]

Originally Posted by Rick

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?

[Rick]

Originally Posted by xasterix

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.

[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

[Sajen]

Originally Posted by Interested Party

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