Three "Datu Panabas/es"
 

Cato refers to panabas/es carried by datu retainers, or bodyguards, that took on an intimidating look largely via size and appearance. I believe that these are just such panabas/es, and doubt they ever cut a bit of jungle foliage.

Each is very unique in its own way:

P-1 A shorter panabas, but elegant, and with a lovely twist core blade, and quality fittings.

P-2 A panabas with a massive, quality blade, and more excellent fittings.

P-3 The oddest panabas of the group, with rattan wrapped handle and quality mesh brass work. Most intriguing of all is the "tsuba" like pierced guard(!!!). The blade is super sharp on the bottom and just past the first half of the top. This one could have been handled in many different ways.

A most lovely group of Panabai!

Charles?
Wow.
Those are incredible.

Steve

OHHH!!
 

:eek: :eek: CONGRATULATIONS!!! TRERE ARE A VERY BEATIFUL PANABAS!! YOU ARE A LUCKY MAN!!
BEST REGARDS
CARLOS

Super things. Another thing I need so badly :eek: :cool:

Congratulations Charles!

Three top pieces. I wonder if no 3 was inspired from the Japanese?
I haven't seen anything like it before.
Is the tsuba as old as the rest of the panabas, based on the patina?

Michael

I have seen the bottom one before - I also wonder if the fittings are later - the style and type of brass work make me lean in this direction. The blade is the rarer form though.

The top one is amazing! My panabas is laminated, but I have never seen a twist core panabas before - truly a datu class probably carried by a body guard of a high datu or sultan. Like the steel fittings on it.

The middle one looks fun too - again a datu class piece in the brass fittings. Are the white bands aluminum or silver?

You know, if you plan to toss any of these in garbage, I'll be happy to clean up the mess. :D

Thanks guys.

VVV....I agree it is one odd panabas, but the patina is the same throughout. I cannot figure out the metal addition to the 'tsuba'. At first I thought it was a repair, but as you look at the way it was clamped on there is nothing broken there, almost as if it originally had a opening, and the maker then decided it was a bad idea.

Battara....I think there is far too much patina on #3 to be too late, though I agree it is one odd bird. All parts seem "born together", and it's all solid. PT polished the blade and was rather impressed by it. The rattan has that "honey-toned" patina that you see on the older kriss hilts and scabbards.

CharleS, These are absolutely outstanding! Especially like number 1! Just exquisite! Recently got a good panabas myself, will post it in another thread,

I recently picked up a Panabas with a Tsuba like guard similar to CharlesS' P-3. I've been eyeing this for quite a while and decided to take the plunge. I etched the blade and am pleasantly surprised with the outcome.

Wrapped around the handle under the pierced brass work is some fabric (Munsala?). It's older than it projects on the photos. It has been covered in lacquer, resulting in shiny brass.

to quote paris hilton: "those are hot".

Another great one!

Really interesting with this "tsuba"-version of Panabas.
It seems logic to have a handguard...
Has anybody seen them before in any museums or in old books?

Michael

Congratulations Kino (you lucky jerk...er...I mean "guy")! You'd been eyeing it? Where did you find it?

:eek: Well, now I know how you feel about me. It was on this auction site for over a year, nobody placed a bid on it. I thought for sure someone on this forum saw it. I decided 2 weeks ago to place a bid on it.

Awesome example from top to bottom!! I really love the blade.

yo kino,
what's the length of this panabas? looking nice! esp. like the pattern on the blade... matahom (purty), lol

'Tis beautiful, Albert!

Thanks for the compliments. I love the top 3.

OAL 33.5", blade 17.25"

Top of its class!!!! Very nice especially the first piece P-1. It got that pamor Lar Gangsir (javanese term for a type of keris pamor).