Ethnographic Arms & Armour
 

Go Back   Ethnographic Arms & Armour > Discussion Forums > Ethnographic Weapons
FAQ Calendar Today's Posts Search

Reply
 
Thread Tools Search this Thread Display Modes
Old 12th August 2009, 01:37 PM   #1
scratch
Member
 
scratch's Avatar
 
Join Date: Sep 2007
Location: Australia
Posts: 96
Default Moro Axe Panabas

G'day
I thought some members may be interested in this piece.

Cheers,

Daniel
Attached Images
      
scratch is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 12th August 2009, 02:23 PM   #2
Rick
Vikingsword Staff
 
Rick's Avatar
 
Join Date: Nov 2004
Posts: 6,290
Thumbs up

Congratulations !
You have one of the rarest forms of Panabas .
Rick is online now   Reply With Quote
Old 12th August 2009, 02:43 PM   #3
Gavin Nugent
Member
 
Gavin Nugent's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2007
Posts: 2,818
Default Very Nice

Very nice and a strong raw weapon Scratch, congrats on a great find!!!

The twist rattan wrap pictured, does it denote anything in particular?

Quote:
Originally Posted by Rick
Congratulations !
You have one of the rarest forms of Panabas .
Make that two of the rarest...I do hope the other is shared in time too...


Gav
Gavin Nugent is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 12th August 2009, 03:39 PM   #4
Rick
Vikingsword Staff
 
Rick's Avatar
 
Join Date: Nov 2004
Posts: 6,290
Smile

Funny, the curve in the spine seems purpose made .

Those marks on the spine are from use; not decoration, correct ?
Rick is online now   Reply With Quote
Old 12th August 2009, 04:31 PM   #5
KuKulzA28
Member
 
KuKulzA28's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2008
Location: between work and sleep
Posts: 731
Default

never seen one of those, great find scratch!
KuKulzA28 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 12th August 2009, 07:13 PM   #6
dennee
Member
 
Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: College Park, MD
Posts: 186
Default

The blade's curve could be intended to keep the hand away from the work---as with the handle of a broad ax (also with a beveled edge) used for hewing timber.
dennee is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 13th August 2009, 09:47 AM   #7
wilked aka Khun Deng
Member
 
wilked aka Khun Deng's Avatar
 
Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: Oahu, Hawaii
Posts: 166
Default Rarest

Rick or scratch,
Could you elaborate on the "rarest" comment. I'm unfamiliar with any panabas in this profile?

Dan
wilked aka Khun Deng is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 13th August 2009, 10:44 AM   #8
Gavin Nugent
Member
 
Gavin Nugent's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2007
Posts: 2,818
Default Cato

Quote:
Originally Posted by wilked aka Khun Deng
Rick or scratch,
Could you elaborate on the "rarest" comment. I'm unfamiliar with any panabas in this profile?

Dan

Hi Dan,

My Cato book is on loan at the moment but he notes this form in his book, someone should be able to site the images and passage in the book.

Gav
Gavin Nugent is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 13th August 2009, 01:49 PM   #9
G. McCormack
Member
 
G. McCormack's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 2005
Location: Tallahassee, FL
Posts: 131
Default

Lovely piece!

The bend in the blade does not look intentional, but rather a result of use, just like the scars on the spine that come from hammering- as you might when using this to split wood. I'm sure the first owner more than once straightened the blade under his foot. This doesn't come across as a hewing tool.

G. McCormack is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 13th August 2009, 01:59 PM   #10
Gavin Nugent
Member
 
Gavin Nugent's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2007
Posts: 2,818
Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by G. McCormack
Lovely piece!

The bend in the blade does not look intentional, but rather a result of use, just like the scars on the spine that come from hammering- as you might when using this to split wood. I'm sure the first owner more than once straightened the blade under his foot. This doesn't come across as a hewing tool.

I'd bet a hundred there is no straightening this blade under foot, between floor boards or any other method. I'd be interested in hearing what the owner has to say though.
I'd be interested in knowing more of the measurements too.

Gav
Gavin Nugent is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 13th August 2009, 02:06 PM   #11
migueldiaz
Member
 
migueldiaz's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2008
Location: Manila, Phils.
Posts: 1,042
Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by wilked aka Khun Deng
Rick or scratch, Could you elaborate on the "rarest" comment. I'm unfamiliar with any panabas in this profile? Dan
Dan, at the Hayes Museum, there's a similar panabas with this description:
Object Name: Ax
Other Name: Panabas
Catalog Number: 1934.706.1

Description: hand-held ax (often refered to as a borong); leaf-shaped blade, thickens on top and narrows towards bottom, and is heavy; handle is wood and has numerous rinds carved into it from middle to top; bottom half is split down the middle (by design) to accommodate the hidden hilt of the blade and held together by four metal bands, one corroded silver and the three botttom ones brass; end cap has ”WP 54” written in black ink; top part of handle side has unreadable marking sticker;

Date: 1900
Dimensions: L - 20.866 inches
Material: wood; metal;
Event: Philippine Insurrection

Provenance: Panabas brought back from the Philippines by Webb C. Hayes

Notes: # 6 in display case; part of a collection of weapons and assorted items Webb C Hayes brought back from the Philippines. According to Ron Zambarrona [Zambarrano], a collector and historian of Moro weapons, this is a rarest form of a Panabas, a smaller version, which is often mistaken for an ax.

Collection: Webb Cook Hayes
The panabas below as described above also appeared in this thread.
Attached Images
 
migueldiaz is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 13th August 2009, 02:15 PM   #12
Maurice
Member
 
Maurice's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jan 2007
Location: The Netherlands
Posts: 1,334
Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by freebooter
Hi Dan,

My Cato book is on loan at the moment but he notes this form in his book, someone should be able to site the images and passage in the book.

Gav
Cato page 91.
Photo 56
Maurice is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 13th August 2009, 03:37 PM   #13
Lew
(deceased)
 
Lew's Avatar
 
Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: East Coast USA
Posts: 3,191
Default

Nice example but IMO this is more a Agricultural tool for field work of food preparation and not a true panabas

Lew
Lew is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 13th August 2009, 04:26 PM   #14
Rick
Vikingsword Staff
 
Rick's Avatar
 
Join Date: Nov 2004
Posts: 6,290
Smile

Hi Lew, I could agree with you .
The only thing that puts me off the tool idea is the blade profile; it looks inefficient for field work .

We can see the abuse the spine has suffered so I'm sure it was used as a tool at some point .

On the other hand; for melee combat it would make a great slashing chopper; not to mention that point .
Rick is online now   Reply With Quote
Old 13th August 2009, 07:56 PM   #15
Lew
(deceased)
 
Lew's Avatar
 
Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: East Coast USA
Posts: 3,191
Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by Rick
Hi Lew, I could agree with you .
The only thing that puts me off the tool idea is the blade profile; it looks inefficient for field work .

We can see the abuse the spine has suffered so I'm sure it was used as a tool at some point .

On the other hand; for melee combat it would make a great slashing chopper; not to mention that point .
Rick

I really don't think this is a melee weapon the blade is quite thin and it does not much of a reach. The damage to the spine is from batoning probably used it to pound the blade through rattan or some other woody/fiberous material. I can just see the face on the owner on this piece when he confronts another Moro warrior charging at him with a long kris or kampilan.
Lew is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 14th August 2009, 02:18 AM   #16
scratch
Member
 
scratch's Avatar
 
Join Date: Sep 2007
Location: Australia
Posts: 96
Default

G'day
I hope this piece continues to generate discussion.
Thank you to all for their communication and contribution.
It would do this piece and its maker a disservice to consider it as tool primarily,I think, although it certainly could have been used as such. Not to imply that an agricultural tool is any less valid of course. Perhaps this piece and other weapons also have their origin in agrarian function?
What parameters does one use to establish whether this a "true" panabas?
In the hands of a Moro warrior committed to death it would be a formidable weapon I think.

Measures
Overall lenght:25 in.
Blade length: 12 1/4 in.
Weight: 2 lb 7 oz.
To my eye Handle is made of bamboo root like good kachin daos.

The double beveled edge creates a thickness at cut zone as "thin" as many of my kukris and thicker than my barong example.
Blade has lateral strength to pry floorboards open/wider without taking a set as suggested. I believe the curve to be forged. I t does not flex easily. I would not subject my barong to this level of stress.
Dings in spine could have come through forceful blows against stationary metal object,I think, or forged purposefully? I tend to agree with Rick that abuse of some kind is likely.
Maurice and Migueldiaz, Thank you for your references as I can find little else published on these items.

Regarding rattan knot am I correct in thinking that mandaus have similiar?

Best regards to all,

Daniel
Attached Images
   
scratch is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 14th August 2009, 03:35 AM   #17
Lew
(deceased)
 
Lew's Avatar
 
Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: East Coast USA
Posts: 3,191
Default

Scratch

Panabas were originally used as axes and for chopping wood and was put into use as a weapon in a pinch. I have seen photos of Moros carrying kampilans,barungs and kris and the only photo of a panabas I have seen was used to lop off heads for executions.

Lew
Lew is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 14th August 2009, 04:50 AM   #18
Gavin Nugent
Member
 
Gavin Nugent's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2007
Posts: 2,818
Default The forte

To those learned gents on Moro Panabas, does the curved notch cut outs top and bottom at the forte indicated a true panabas as I have seen this notching on other high end panabas???
The length is very capable looking at it, longer than a Katchin Dao and nearly as long as a Kora...I'd like to hear more.

Gav

Last edited by freebooter; 14th August 2009 at 10:18 AM.
Gavin Nugent is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 16th August 2009, 08:36 PM   #19
Battara
EAAF Staff
 
Battara's Avatar
 
Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: Louisville, KY
Posts: 7,217
Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by LOUIEBLADES
I have seen photos of Moros carrying kampilans,barungs and kris and the only photo of a panabas I have seen was used to lop off heads for executions.
Lew
I have been a little quiet on this post. Regarding pictures, I have seen a couple, not many. Yes they were more the execution types not this type.
Battara is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 30th November 2018, 05:26 AM   #20
Robert
EAAF Staff
 
Robert's Avatar
 
Join Date: Feb 2005
Location: Centerville, Kansas
Posts: 2,196
Default

I wish that I could claim to be the new owner of this exceptional piece and even though I cannot, I felt the need to resurrect this older thread to add these photos to our archives of this rare form of panabas. I am hoping that it was one of our forum members who has given this beautiful piece a new home and that after it has arrived and they have had the chance to give it a bit of TLC they will post more information as well as better quality photos showing the details much better than these auction photos do. My congratulations to whoever it might be that has had the good fortune to have won this beautiful piece.

Best,
Robert
Attached Images
       
Robert is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 30th November 2018, 10:08 AM   #21
kronckew
Member
 
kronckew's Avatar
 
Join Date: Mar 2006
Location: Room 101, Glos. UK
Posts: 4,178
Default

Nice! That definitely does NOT look like a tool.
kronckew is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 30th November 2018, 06:18 PM   #22
David
Keris forum moderator
 
David's Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 2006
Location: Nova Scotia
Posts: 7,113
Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by kronckew
Nice! That definitely does NOT look like a tool.
That is exactly what i was thinking as i scrolled down the photos Wayne. This one, at least, does not appear to be meant for agricultural use.
David is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 30th November 2018, 08:30 PM   #23
Battara
EAAF Staff
 
Battara's Avatar
 
Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: Louisville, KY
Posts: 7,217
Default

So you beat me out on this!.............I mean...............er.............great panabas!

And this looks like it belonged to a well respected/higher status warrior!

Congratulations!
Battara is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 1st December 2018, 03:53 AM   #24
Robert
EAAF Staff
 
Robert's Avatar
 
Join Date: Feb 2005
Location: Centerville, Kansas
Posts: 2,196
Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by kronckew Nice! That definitely does NOT look like a tool.
Quote:
Originally Posted by kronckew That is exactly what i was thinking as i scrolled down the photos Wayne. This one, at least, does not appear to be meant for agricultural use.
Yes, this one and the one that Migueldiaz pointed out in this link http://www.vikingsword.com/vb/showthread.php?t=10566 are the only ones so far that look as if they were never meant for splitting cocoanuts but heads instead. I have attached the photos from the Hayes Museum below for convenience.

Quote:
Originally Posted by Jose So you beat me out on this!.............I mean...............er.............great panabas!
As I said in my first posting, I "WISH" I could say that I was the winner, but unfortunately I am not Believe me, if I had won this wonderful piece everyone would know.


Best,
Robert
Attached Images
   

Last edited by Robert; 1st December 2018 at 04:06 AM.
Robert is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 1st December 2018, 05:48 PM   #25
Battara
EAAF Staff
 
Battara's Avatar
 
Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: Louisville, KY
Posts: 7,217
Default

Um........right.........I missed that............

Anyway, I noticed the silver okir inlays into the blade and the bronze okir bands - not seen these in your usual panabas. I was hoping to make the end cap/ring if I got it.
Battara is offline   Reply With Quote
Reply


Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off

Forum Jump


All times are GMT +1. The time now is 12:55 PM.


Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.11
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, vBulletin Solutions Inc.
Posts are regarded as being copyrighted by their authors and the act of posting material is deemed to be a granting of an irrevocable nonexclusive license for display here.