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Moro panabas 4 (Macao exhibit)

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Item 175: Panabas

Maguindanao tribe.

Period: 19th century
Overall: 86 cm (34.4 inches)
Blade: 48 cm (19.2 inches)
Hilt: 36 cm (14.4 inches)

Notes:

Moros of Mindanao occasionally used the panabas, a fairly rare and large heavy chopping weapon that ranges from 60 to 120 centimeters (2 to 4 feet) in length. It can deliver horrible cleaving blows and was sometimes used for executions. As a weapon of execution, the panabas also came to symbolize the power and prestige of the chieftain (datu) in his ability to control violence. It was used as a combat weapon and as a display of power. Sometimes on the battlefield warriors wielding the panabas would follow the main group of warriors, mopping up any survivors after the first wave of attack.

Panabas blades are curved, being wider at the tip than at the hilt, and made of laminated steel. A rare form of panabas has an “S” shaped blade sharpened partially along the backside. File work in the form of talismanic “X” are found on some of the spines. Hilts are made of hardwood often wrapped in braided rattan, although some are wrapped in metal bands. Scabbards for this weapon were made of plain wood and are rare. Warriors frequently discarded the scabbards prior to battle, contributing to their scarcity today. Sometimes panabas were carried into battle wrapped in cloth and slung across the back.

Moro panabas 3 (Macao exhibit)

Website description:

Item 174: Panabas

Moro (Maguindanao tribe?), Mindanao Island.

Damascus blade in scimitar form, double edged with one edge having a spine with 15 "X" carved talismans. Narra wood handle has one half lighter and one half-darker, with 3 white brass bands separated by black lacquered cord. Scabbard is breakaway style of plain wood. Belonged to datu entourage and is generally known to be an executioner's sword. According to Cato, this form of panabas is relatively scarce.

Period: late 19th Century

Overall: 77.6 cm (31 inches)
Blade: 46 cm (18.4 inches)
Hilt: 32 cm (12.6 inches)
Scabbard: 48 cm (18.9 inches)

Provenance: Robert Cato and is pictured in Moro Swords on page 92, photograph 58, the top blade in the picture.

Notes:

Moros of Mindanao occasionally used the panabas, a fairly rare and large heavy chopping weapon that ranges from 60 to 120 centimeters (2 to 4 feet) in length. It can deliver horrible cleaving blows and was sometimes used for executions. As a weapon of execution, the panabas also came to symbolize the power and prestige of the chieftain (datu) in his ability to control violence. It was used as a combat weapon and as a display of power. Sometimes on the battlefield warriors wielding the panabas would follow the main group of warriors, mopping up any survivors after the first wave of attack.

Panabas blades are curved, being wider at the tip than at the hilt, and made of laminated steel. A rare form of panabas has an “S” shaped blade sharpened partially along the backside. File work in the form of talismanic “X” are found on some of the spines. Hilts are made of hardwood often wrapped in braided rattan, although some are wrapped in metal bands. Scabbards for this weapon were made of plain wood and are rare. Warriors frequently discarded the scabbards prior to battle, contributing to their scarcity today. Sometimes panabas were carried into battle wrapped in cloth and slung across the back.

Moro panabas 2 (Macao exhibit)

Website description:

Item 173: Moro Panabas

Part utility, part warfare weapon. This specific type of sword has a 
notorious reputation as it was usually used for beheadings. Not sure the exact origin of this weapon. Original owner metioned Sibugnay Bay, Zamboanga, but he wasn't too sure about that. Blade is laminated and heavy; with a diamond shape cross section. Spine's base closest to the handle is 2.2 cm thick! Handle is rather simple; wood with brass tacks and low content silver bands.

Circa 1800's

Overall length: 81.9 cm (32 3/4 inches)
Blade length: 49.5 cm (19 1/2 inches)
Blade wide point: 12.1 cm (4 3/4 inches)
Handle length: 33.0 cm (13 inches)

Notes:

Moros of Mindanao occasionally used the panabas, a fairly rare and large heavy chopping weapon that ranges from 60 to 120 centimeters (2 to 4 feet) in length. It can deliver horrible cleaving blows and was sometimes used for executions. As a weapon of execution, the panabas also came to symbolize the power and prestige of the chieftain (datu) in his ability to control violence. It was used as a combat weapon and as a display of power. Sometimes on the battlefield warriors wielding the panabas would follow the main group of warriors, mopping up any survivors after the first wave of attack.

Panabas blades are curved, being wider at the tip than at the hilt, and made of laminated steel. A rare form of panabas has an “S” shaped blade sharpened partially along the backside. File work in the form of talismanic “X” are found on some of the spines. Hilts are made of hardwood often wrapped in braided rattan, although some are wrapped in metal bands. Scabbards for this weapon were made of plain wood and are rare. Warriors frequently discarded the scabbards prior to battle, contributing to their scarcity today. Sometimes panabas were carried into battle wrapped in cloth and slung across the back.

Moro panabas 1 (Macao exhibit)

Website description:

Item 172: Moro Panabas

Period: Moro Wars, turn of the century

Shows battle damage on the cutting edge and a bullet wound on the face of the blade. A testimony to the strength of laminated steel.  Rattan wrapping with finer woven rattan bands above; simple carving at the pommel.

Overall length: 65 cm (26 inches)
Blade length: 29 cm (11.6 inches)
Handle length: 33 cm (13.2 inches)

Notes:

Moros of Mindanao occasionally used the panabas, a fairly rare and large heavy chopping weapon that ranges from 60 to 120 centimeters (2 to 4 feet) in length. It can deliver horrible cleaving blows and was sometimes used for executions. As a weapon of execution, the panabas also came to symbolize the power and prestige of the chieftain (datu) in his ability to control violence. It was used as a combat weapon and as a display of power. Sometimes on the battlefield warriors wielding the panabas would follow the main group of warriors, mopping up any survivors after the first wave of attack.

Panabas blades are curved, being wider at the tip than at the hilt, and made of laminated steel. A rare form of panabas has an “S” shaped blade sharpened partially along the backside. File work in the form of talismanic “X” are found on some of the spines. Hilts are made of hardwood often wrapped in braided rattan, although some are wrapped in metal bands. Scabbards for this weapon were made of plain wood and are rare. Warriors frequently discarded the scabbards prior to battle, contributing to their scarcity today. Sometimes panabas were carried into battle wrapped in cloth and slung across the back.

Moro kampilan sword 4 (Macao exhibit)

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Item 179: Moro Kampilan

Found throughout Mindanao/Sulu. Favored by the Maguidanaon warrior. The biggest type of sword used by the Moros. This sword has the rare scabbard with it. Scabbards on kampilan are rare since it is made to break away in half, thereby saving the warrior some time from pulling it out. One just has to strike the sword (still in its scabbard) and the blade cuts the binding that hold the two halves together. Horse hair and handguard restored.

Period: Circa early 1900's

Overall length: 99.1 cm (39 inches)
Blade length: 73.0 cm (28 3/4 inches)
Handle length: 26.0 cm (10 1/4 inches)
Scabbard length: 74.9 cm (29 1/2 inches)

[Notes: The longest sword in the Philippines is the Kampilan. It is also the most misunderstood sword in terms of design and use in sword fights. The more common spikelet on top of the blade tip can bring unresolved debate on its use. And the forked handle that seems attached up side down is even more unusual if not intriguing. Yet the Kampilan is the most cited weapon in documents written by the Spanish Conquistadors during the colonization and occupation of the Philippines from 1565 to 1898. Kampilan is found in Mindanao and used by the Maranaos, Maguindanaos, Iranuns [Ilanuns], Subanons and others. It is the sword preferred by the largest Moro group, the Maguindanaos and also by the infamous Iranun (mercenaries & pirates). The forked handle is a stylized gaping jaws of Buaya (crocodile) but its origin is Naga (serpent or dragon).]

Moro kampilan sword 3 (Macao exhibit)

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Item 178: [Moro] Kampilan

Origin: Mindanao, Philippines
Ethnic Group: Maranao or Maguindanao
Period: Mid-19th century

Very old kampilan with heavily age-patinated blade of typical form, a wooden cross guard, and truncated hilt. The iron guard is missing although the holes for such a guard are present. The forked pommel has been cut off, and the cord-wrapped handle has been mounted upside down compared with the usual orientation (see Numbers 17, 18, 20)

Overall length: 81.3 cm (32 inches)
Blade: 64.8 cm (25 1/2 inches)
Hilt: 16.5 cm (6 1/2 inches)

[Notes: The longest sword in the Philippines is the Kampilan. It is also the most misunderstood sword in terms of design and use in sword fights. The more common spikelet on top of the blade tip can bring unresolved debate on its use. And the forked handle that seems attached up side down is even more unusual if not intriguing. Yet the Kampilan is the most cited weapon in documents written by the Spanish Conquistadors during the colonization and occupation of the Philippines from 1565 to 1898. Kampilan is found in Mindanao and used by the Maranaos, Maguindanaos, Iranuns [Ilanuns], Subanons and others. It is the sword preferred by the largest Moro group, the Maguindanaos and also by the infamous Iranun (mercenaries & pirates). The forked handle is a stylized gaping jaws of Buaya (crocodile) but its origin is Naga (serpent or dragon).]

Moro kampilan sword 2 (Macao exhibit)

Website description:

Item 177: [Moro] Kampilan

Origin: Mindanao, Philippines
Ethnic Group: Maranao or Maguindanao
Period: Pre-1900

This large kampilan has the typical long blade with straight edges and terminal “spikes.” This example has a series of brass inlaid dots along the spine. Etching of the blade shows that the cutting edge was hardened using differential heat treatment. The blade shows many edge nicks from combat. The wooden cross guard has metal rings on one side to protect the hand. The handle is banati [bunti] wood wrapped with cord and rattan strips. The pommel is a carved, forked piece of banati that may be representative of a crocodile’s jaws or the tail of a swift.

Overall length: 98.5 cm (38 3/4 inches)
Blade: 71.8 cm (28 1/4 inches)
Hilt: 26.7 cm (10 1/2 inches)

[Notes: The longest sword in the Philippines is the Kampilan. It is also the most misunderstood sword in terms of design and use in sword fights. The more common spikelet on top of the blade tip can bring unresolved debate on its use. And the forked handle that seems attached up side down is even more unusual if not intriguing. Yet the Kampilan is the most cited weapon in documents written by the Spanish Conquistadors during the colonization and occupation of the Philippines from 1565 to 1898. Kampilan is found in Mindanao and used by the Maranaos, Maguindanaos, Iranuns [Ilanuns], Subanons and others. It is the sword preferred by the largest Moro group, the Maguindanaos and also by the infamous Iranun (mercenaries & pirates). The forked handle is a stylized gaping jaws of Buaya (crocodile) but its origin is Naga (serpent or dragon).]

Moro kampilan sword 1 (Macao exhibit)

Website description:

Item 176: Moro kampilan

Mid 19th century (probably Mindanao origin) with munsala [cloth] strap.
Blade inlaid with silver dots near tip. Hilt may represent either a crocodile or the bird called a swift (bird's nest soup variety). Undulating steel staple as hand guard.

Overall length: 95.88 cm (37 3/4 inches)
Blade: 72.39 cm (28 1/2 inches) laminated steel with extreme distal taper
Hilt: 23.49 (9 1/4 inches)

[Notes: The longest sword in the Philippines is the Kampilan. It is also the most misunderstood sword in terms of design and use in sword fights. The more common spikelet on top of the blade tip can bring unresolved debate on its use. And the forked handle that seems attached up side down is even more unusual if not intriguing. Yet the Kampilan is the most cited weapon in documents written by the Spanish Conquistadors during the colonization and occupation of the Philippines from 1565 to 1898. Kampilan is found in Mindanao and used by the Maranaos, Maguindanaos, Iranuns [Ilanuns], Subanons and others. It is the sword preferred by the largest Moro group, the Maguindanaos and also by the infamous Iranun (mercenaries & pirates). The forked handle is a stylized gaping jaws of Buaya (crocodile) but its origin is Naga (serpent or dragon).]

Moro bangkung sword 2 (Macao exhibit)

Website description:

Item 180: [Moro] Bangkung

Period: Mid-20th century
Origin: Sulu Archipelago, Philippines
Ethnic Group: Tausug, Yakan, Samal

The bangkung is a rare Moro sword with a klewang style of blade, being much wider towards the tip than at the hilt. The hilt has a horse hoof pommel with plaited cord strips over a wooden handle. The blade is laminated steel and has a hardened edge.

Overall length: 70.5 cm (28.2 inches)
Blade: 55.3 cm (22.1 inches)
Hilt: 15.2 cm (6.1 inches)
Scabbard: 57 cm (22.8 inches)

Moro bangkung sword 1 (Macao exhibit)

Website description:

Item 181: Moro Bangkung

Period: 1950’s
Name: Bangkung
Hilt: Horse hoof type pommel hilt with jute wrapped handle with pitch. 
Blade: Klewang type blade with spring tempered blade.
Origin: Sulu, Mindanao

Overall Length: 72.8 cm (29.1 inches)
Blade Length: 59.5 cm (23.8 inches)
Handle Length: 13.3 cm (5.3 inches)