BINUAYA/BINUWAYA MAGUINDANAO

tanaruz · 8th April 2023, 06:41 AM

Hi,

Sharing a blade that is one of the center-pieces in my father's blade collection.

Called a 'binuaya/binuwaya'- it resembles the 'buaya' or the crocodile. It came from Maguindanao, Mindanao.

OAL: 26-inches/ 13-inch blade. Hilt: unknown wood with aluminum & nylon bands.

My father has two of these blades- the 2nd one, a much newer, newly-commissioned one, which has an oAL of 37.5 inches with a 18.5-inches blade. But I will share this second one of a separate post.

A short trivia(as related to my father by a Maguindanaon friend: The binuaya blade represents the three nations of the Maguindanaon Bangsamoro (see illustration-ctto).

According to my father's friend, there are 5 ranks with the corresponding blade by which they are allowed to carry/possess:

1) Binuaya - the highest of the 5-rank category. In the olden times, this
blade is 'used' exclusively to carry out sentences (presumably death) on criminals by their court;
2) kampilan - used by datus 'only'
3) kris - used by warriors
4) spear (called a 'dilek')- for war and hunting
5) panabas - lowest rank (slaves)

The forging of a binuaya (we're not sure if it includes the other Maguindanaon blades)- MUST be made by a person/s who, is in his bloodline a bladesmith by trade. If, the blade is forged by a person whose ancestor are not bladesmiths- then the person will experience malady...or worse.

Note: the binuaya blade must be represented by the 3-Maguindanaon nations. Reason: to avoid vengeance and reprisals if the executed person does not belong to the unified blade. But if the binuaya, is used, being represented by the 3-nations of Maguindanao - then there will be no vengeance or reprisals.

This is the story relayed by my father's friend.

Saludos,

Yves

Ian · 10th April 2023, 12:33 AM

Yves,

Thank you for sharing this very unusual piece and the story of what it represents. Very informative.

Ian

tanaruz · 10th April 2023, 03:17 AM

Hello Ian,

Pleasure to do so.

Here's the newly commissioned binuaya from Maguindanao.

OAL: 35.5 inches/ blade: 18.5 inches
Hilt: ipil hardwood (moluccan ironwood)
Scabbard: Ipil hardwood (moluccan ironwood)-from a very old electrical post, with aluminum fasteners.
The design of the scabbard resembles that of a buaya (crocodile).

Happy Easter everyone,

Yves

werecow · 10th April 2023, 01:09 PM

I may well be mistaken but to my untrained eye it seems that a lot of the blades often (mis?)labeled as panabas are actually of this type. So now I'm wondering what defines the two and sets them apart?

tanaruz · 11th April 2023, 09:27 AM

Hello,

As to the question: is the binuaya the same as the panabas.
I asked my father. Though he knew the answer- it was best he said , for me to hear it from a Maguindanaon source regarding this question.

1) the binuaya blade is an EXCLUSIVE blade of the Maguindanaon. No other moro tribe carries this blade).
2) it is EXCLUSIVELY used in carrying out sentences (usually death) by their court. The method is by 'slitting' the throat of the convicted criminal (padsumbalin). (Note: they never chop of the head of a criminal convicted to die because it is NOT proper).

This is the only Maguindanaon blade that has the 3 nations of the Maguindanaon bangsamoro well represented (see my initial post for reference). IF a convicted person is killed using the binuaya- there will be NO reprisals/vengeance from the person/s kin since the instrument is represented by the 3 nations of Maguindanao.

3) the binuaya blade is one that cannot be used in warfare (only for their courts).

Now, the panabas is one of the blade that is used in warfare. It CANNOT be used to function like a binuaya in carrying out sentences because the panabas is NOT represented by the 3 nations of Maguidanaon bangsamoro.
If a panabas is used to carry out death sentences by their court- there sure will be reprisals. And a similar blade (panabas) will be used by the kin to kill the person who employed it in carrying out the court's death sentence.

The panabas is used in warfare.

In short- they have different functions, hence, different designs.

Hope this sheds light.

Saludos,

Yves

Ian · 11th April 2023, 10:43 AM

Yves,

Thank you again for clarifying the use of this interesting sword. There is a form of panabas that has a somewhat similar shaped blade as your binuwaya that has been called a padsumbalin panabas. Are they the same? I notice you use padsumbalin to describe the condemned criminal. The term padsumbalin panabas appears in Robert Cato's book I think.

8th April 2023, 06:41 AM	#1
tanaruz Member Join Date: Apr 2020 Posts: 267	BINUAYA/BINUWAYA MAGUINDANAO Hi, Sharing a blade that is one of the center-pieces in my father's blade collection. Called a 'binuaya/binuwaya'- it resembles the 'buaya' or the crocodile. It came from Maguindanao, Mindanao. OAL: 26-inches/ 13-inch blade. Hilt: unknown wood with aluminum & nylon bands. My father has two of these blades- the 2nd one, a much newer, newly-commissioned one, which has an oAL of 37.5 inches with a 18.5-inches blade. But I will share this second one of a separate post. A short trivia(as related to my father by a Maguindanaon friend: The binuaya blade represents the three nations of the Maguindanaon Bangsamoro (see illustration-ctto). According to my father's friend, there are 5 ranks with the corresponding blade by which they are allowed to carry/possess: 1) Binuaya - the highest of the 5-rank category. In the olden times, this blade is 'used' exclusively to carry out sentences (presumably death) on criminals by their court; 2) kampilan - used by datus 'only' 3) kris - used by warriors 4) spear (called a 'dilek')- for war and hunting 5) panabas - lowest rank (slaves) The forging of a binuaya (we're not sure if it includes the other Maguindanaon blades)- MUST be made by a person/s who, is in his bloodline a bladesmith by trade. If, the blade is forged by a person whose ancestor are not bladesmiths- then the person will experience malady...or worse. Note: the binuaya blade must be represented by the 3-Maguindanaon nations. Reason: to avoid vengeance and reprisals if the executed person does not belong to the unified blade. But if the binuaya, is used, being represented by the 3-nations of Maguindanao - then there will be no vengeance or reprisals. This is the story relayed by my father's friend. Saludos, Yves Attached Images

10th April 2023, 03:17 AM	#3
tanaruz Member Join Date: Apr 2020 Posts: 267	BINUAYA/BINUWAYA MAGUINDANAO Hello Ian, Pleasure to do so. Here's the newly commissioned binuaya from Maguindanao. OAL: 35.5 inches/ blade: 18.5 inches Hilt: ipil hardwood (moluccan ironwood) Scabbard: Ipil hardwood (moluccan ironwood)-from a very old electrical post, with aluminum fasteners. The design of the scabbard resembles that of a buaya (crocodile). Happy Easter everyone, Yves Attached Images

11th April 2023, 09:27 AM	#5
tanaruz Member Join Date: Apr 2020 Posts: 267	BINUAYA/BINUWAYA MAGUINDANAO Hello, As to the question: is the binuaya the same as the panabas. I asked my father. Though he knew the answer- it was best he said , for me to hear it from a Maguindanaon source regarding this question. 1) the binuaya blade is an EXCLUSIVE blade of the Maguindanaon. No other moro tribe carries this blade). 2) it is EXCLUSIVELY used in carrying out sentences (usually death) by their court. The method is by 'slitting' the throat of the convicted criminal (padsumbalin). (Note: they never chop of the head of a criminal convicted to die because it is NOT proper). This is the only Maguindanaon blade that has the 3 nations of the Maguindanaon bangsamoro well represented (see my initial post for reference). IF a convicted person is killed using the binuaya- there will be NO reprisals/vengeance from the person/s kin since the instrument is represented by the 3 nations of Maguindanao. 3) the binuaya blade is one that cannot be used in warfare (only for their courts). Now, the panabas is one of the blade that is used in warfare. It CANNOT be used to function like a binuaya in carrying out sentences because the panabas is NOT represented by the 3 nations of Maguidanaon bangsamoro. If a panabas is used to carry out death sentences by their court- there sure will be reprisals. And a similar blade (panabas) will be used by the kin to kill the person who employed it in carrying out the court's death sentence. The panabas is used in warfare. In short- they have different functions, hence, different designs. Hope this sheds light. Saludos, Yves

10th April 2023, 12:33 AM	#2
Ian Vikingsword Staff Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: The Aussie Bush Posts: 4,195	Yves, Thank you for sharing this very unusual piece and the story of what it represents. Very informative. Ian

10th April 2023, 01:09 PM	#4
werecow Member Join Date: Sep 2021 Location: Leiden, NL Posts: 493	I may well be mistaken but to my untrained eye it seems that a lot of the blades often (mis?)labeled as panabas are actually of this type. So now I'm wondering what defines the two and sets them apart?

11th April 2023, 10:43 AM	#6
Ian Vikingsword Staff Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: The Aussie Bush Posts: 4,195	Yves, Thank you again for clarifying the use of this interesting sword. There is a form of panabas that has a somewhat similar shaped blade as your binuwaya that has been called a padsumbalin panabas. Are they the same? I notice you use padsumbalin to describe the condemned criminal. The term padsumbalin panabas appears in Robert Cato's book I think.