Speaking of Panabas or is it something else

[kai]

It's a not a Moro blade, but rather a Lumad one, under the Subanen tribe.

They have a number of names for this, but it's commonly known nowadays as "glot." To my knowledge, modern ones are still being made, with the same scabbard, but simple wooden hilts.

The hilt may have been a product of trade with other Mindanao or Sulu locations or tribes, as even the old glot samples have simple wooden hilts. Kino, your old piece must have been a status blade in the tribe.

"Margosatubig" is a municipality in Zamboanga del Sur which is populated by Subanen.

All credit for the information goes to the museum curator of Cagayan de Oro, who is also a Lumad researcher and cultural bearer.

Thanks, Xas, that's great information! What are the other names - would be good to have them just in case they may happen to show up in any old literature!

Has the curator already published on Subanen blades? Maybe he could be so kind giving us an overview/preview on the blades from this group?

Could you possibly add a pic or two from examples with those simpler hilts you mentioned, please? Looks like the status pieces did have quite elaborate hilts as shown by the 2 antique examples here.

Regards,
Kai