Panabas
Encyclopedia
The Panabas is a large, forward-curved sword, used by Muslim
tribes in the southern Philippines
. It can range in size from 2 to 4 feet and can be held with one or both hands, delivering a deep, meat-cleaver-like cut. In their heyday, they were used as a combat weapon, as an execution tool, and as a display of power. Occasional use as an agricultural and butchering tool has also been noted.
The sword's name is a shortening of the word "pang-tabas", which means chopping tool. As such, its etymological origins are the root word tabas ("to chop off") and the prefix pang ("used for").
specimens being longer. The forward-curved shape of its blade makes it unique not only in terms of its appearance, but in terms of handling as well. In terms of shape, similarities have been noted between the Panabas and the Nepalese Kukri
knife, although the Kukri is, of course, much smaller. Its hilt
is perhaps the longest among Filipino swords, both in terms of overall length, and in terms of proportion relative to the blade.
blade is single-edged, is narrowest near the hilt, and gets dramatically thicker near the tip, where the edge side of the weapon curves forward.
Because the Panabas is primarily used in a chopping rather than thrusting motion, the shape of the actual tip varies greatly, with some specimens coming to a blunt tip, some pointed in the manner of other Filipino swords such as the Dahong Palay
, and some taking on a square or diamond shape, with the furthest tip of the diamond, on the blunt back of the sword, serving as an elementary spike. There are rare Panabas specimens that have an “S” shaped blade sharpened partially along the backside, such that the specimen is double edged at the tip.
While design work on the Panabas' blade is relatively rare, among the most common examples of decorative design elements take the form of talismanic “X” along the spine.
Observed cross-sectionally, the blade is also thicker at its base, with a typical example being about 2 cm thick - so designed in order to withstand the massive forces that the Panabas both deals out and absorbs with every blow.
and often wrapped in braided rattan
, is perhaps the longest among Filipino swords, both in terms of overall length, and in terms of proportion relative to the blade. The hilts of some specimens are wrapped in metal bands rather than rattan.
s were made of plain wood and are now extremely rare - according to accounts, largely because warriors would frequently discard them prior to a battle. Such scabbards invariably consist of two pieces of wood which are taken apart to remove the sword, as opposed to the sheath-type scabbards used by most other swords. The weapons are also said to have been carried into battle wrapped in cloth and slung across the back.
.
" plaque that has become a common souvenir item and pop culture icon in the Philippines.
Muslim
A Muslim, also spelled Moslem, is an adherent of Islam, a monotheistic, Abrahamic religion based on the Quran, which Muslims consider the verbatim word of God as revealed to prophet Muhammad. "Muslim" is the Arabic term for "submitter" .Muslims believe that God is one and incomparable...
tribes in the southern Philippines
Philippines
The Philippines , officially known as the Republic of the Philippines , is a country in Southeast Asia in the western Pacific Ocean. To its north across the Luzon Strait lies Taiwan. West across the South China Sea sits Vietnam...
. It can range in size from 2 to 4 feet and can be held with one or both hands, delivering a deep, meat-cleaver-like cut. In their heyday, they were used as a combat weapon, as an execution tool, and as a display of power. Occasional use as an agricultural and butchering tool has also been noted.
The sword's name is a shortening of the word "pang-tabas", which means chopping tool. As such, its etymological origins are the root word tabas ("to chop off") and the prefix pang ("used for").
Appearance
Easily one of the most recognizable among Filipino blade weapons, the Panabas is distinguished by its size and its unique, forward-curving profile. At 2 to 4 feet, it is among the largest of Filipino swords, with only some KampilanKampilan
The kampílan is a type of single-edged long sword of the Filipino people. Being ancient origin, it has been used in the Philippine islands of Mindanao, Visayas, and Luzon for centuries, used for head-chopping....
specimens being longer. The forward-curved shape of its blade makes it unique not only in terms of its appearance, but in terms of handling as well. In terms of shape, similarities have been noted between the Panabas and the Nepalese Kukri
Kukri
The kukri is a curved Nepalese Knife, similar to the machete, used as both a tool and as a weapon...
knife, although the Kukri is, of course, much smaller. Its hilt
Hilt
The hilt of a sword is its handle, consisting of a guard,grip and pommel. The guard may contain a crossguard or quillons. A ricasso may also be present, but this is rarely the case...
is perhaps the longest among Filipino swords, both in terms of overall length, and in terms of proportion relative to the blade.
Blade
Seen from the side, the Panabas' laminated steelSteel
Steel is an alloy that consists mostly of iron and has a carbon content between 0.2% and 2.1% by weight, depending on the grade. Carbon is the most common alloying material for iron, but various other alloying elements are used, such as manganese, chromium, vanadium, and tungsten...
blade is single-edged, is narrowest near the hilt, and gets dramatically thicker near the tip, where the edge side of the weapon curves forward.
Because the Panabas is primarily used in a chopping rather than thrusting motion, the shape of the actual tip varies greatly, with some specimens coming to a blunt tip, some pointed in the manner of other Filipino swords such as the Dahong Palay
Dahong Palay
The Dahong Palay , literally 'Rice Leaf' in Tagalog, is a single-edged sword from the Philippines, specifically the Southern Tagalog provinces of Batangas and Mindoro...
, and some taking on a square or diamond shape, with the furthest tip of the diamond, on the blunt back of the sword, serving as an elementary spike. There are rare Panabas specimens that have an “S” shaped blade sharpened partially along the backside, such that the specimen is double edged at the tip.
While design work on the Panabas' blade is relatively rare, among the most common examples of decorative design elements take the form of talismanic “X” along the spine.
Observed cross-sectionally, the blade is also thicker at its base, with a typical example being about 2 cm thick - so designed in order to withstand the massive forces that the Panabas both deals out and absorbs with every blow.
Hilt
The panabas' hilt, made of hardwood such as NarraNarra
Narra may refer to:* Timber trees in the genus Pterocarpus, also known as padauk** Pterocarpus indicus, a common species referred to as Narra...
and often wrapped in braided rattan
Rattan
Rattan is the name for the roughly 600 species of palms in the tribe Calameae, native to tropical regions of Africa, Asia and Australasia.- Structure :...
, is perhaps the longest among Filipino swords, both in terms of overall length, and in terms of proportion relative to the blade. The hilts of some specimens are wrapped in metal bands rather than rattan.
Scabbard
Panabas scabbardScabbard
A scabbard is a sheath for holding a sword, knife, or other large blade. Scabbards have been made of many materials over the millennia, including leather, wood, and metals such as brass or steel.-Types of scabbards:...
s were made of plain wood and are now extremely rare - according to accounts, largely because warriors would frequently discard them prior to a battle. Such scabbards invariably consist of two pieces of wood which are taken apart to remove the sword, as opposed to the sheath-type scabbards used by most other swords. The weapons are also said to have been carried into battle wrapped in cloth and slung across the back.
Weapon
While the Panabas is now rare and there are thus no contemporary cases of its use in battle, stories from and prior to the American colonial era describe it as being used for mop-up operations. It is said that warriors wielding Panabas would form a rear guard and, following in the steps of warriors in front, use the panabas to quickly dispatch any survivors. In terms of its function as a weapon, similarities have been noted between the Panabas and the western battle-axe.Execution tool
Because of its effectiveness at chopping through meat, Panabas was known favored for use in executions. As such, the panabas also came to symbolize a datu's power - a demonstration of his ability to control violence.Domestic use
The function of the Panabas is really that of a large cleaver, and this shapes the domestic use of the Panabas as much as it shapes the martial use. The noted use of the panabas as an execution tool sprang from its initial domestic use for cleaving meat and fish, easily chopping through the large tuna that are caught in the seas of the Southern Philippines. However, its main domestic use is that of clearing unusually dense vegetation.Karit
Used as a broader term, the word panabas means "a chopper" - a description which would include the many machete-like sword variants in the Philippines, and, perhaps more notably, the sickle. In portions of the Philippines where the Panabas is not used, the term panabas is used to refer to the sickle, whose proper name is "karit." It should thus be noted that the panabas and the karit are completely different tools. A weaponized version of the agricultural scythe would be the Indonesian kerambitKerambit
The karambit or kerambit is a small hand-held, curved blade from Southeast Asia, particularly the Malay Archipelago. Called karambit in the Philippines, it is known as a kerambit in both Indonesia and Malaysia...
.
In popular culture
The Panabas is one of many bladed weapons portrayed in the "Weapons of MorolandWeapons of Moroland
"Weapons of Moroland" is a plaque or crest containing miniature models of weapons used by warriors from the indigenous peoples of Mindanao in the Philippines. As a souvenir, it is fairly common in gift shops, and is considered a pop culture icon. Displaying the plaque in one's home is one of...
" plaque that has become a common souvenir item and pop culture icon in the Philippines.