Panabas
 

I just picked up this panabas that looks like it was forged from a file ;whether or not the wave like designs were intentional , I think they look great. The blade is quite heavy and it measures approx. 3/8" thick at the base.

cool, looks like it was a wood rasp in a former life.

panabas were apparently used by the local datu's bodyguard after a battle (assuming he won of course) to take the heads of the losers. dead or alive...

Very nice and unusual example! :)

If it were from a file, it must have been a monster of a file.
Have you tried etching it?
Thanks for sharing.

rasps can be fairly large
http://cdn.instructables.com/FYB/4V7...P0TN.LARGE.jpg

what are the dimensions of the panabas, they can vary quite a bit.

here's a bowie of mine with a 12in. blade made from a rasp.

The blade is 16" x 2 1/2" at it's widest. I don't etch items from a fear that I could ruin them;having no experience , it would probably be a forgone conclusion

a parang made from a rasp, for comparison:

Living in a fairly active port, with the shipyards, the Navy,the various coal, container, grain, etc. terminals, I can remember seeing huge antique files for work aboard vessels. In those days (maybe 50 or 60 years ago), almost all of the repairs were done by the C/eng. .Given the long Spanish and the American presence in the Philippines, I could easily see some Philippine bartering with an American for a large piece of good steel!
I noticed that you have an anvil, a hammer, the files and several nice weapons;did you make those ?