Padsumbalin Panabas...

MABAGANI · 8th December 2004, 05:32 PM

I heard there were a few of the elaborate panabas floating around in the early collecting days, pre ebay, not sure if Zel took a pic of the one in a private collection when he was out here, massive blade, like the lower one in Rick's pic but a longer, heavier version, finely carved hilt and intricate work done on a brass ferrule, dropping the weight of that blade alone could easily behead...
I can't validate the Sulu origin claim on the particular example, but I can pose a question, that if historically there were Iranun communities living in Jolo, wouldn't they likely use their own weaponry and would it constitute it as being used in the Sulu Sultanate? Under some circumstances, I'd say yes. Again, previous works by authors need to be reexamined and checked against other reliable sources.

Federico · 8th December 2004, 06:25 PM

Given the fluctuating state of the various Sultanates, I would not be surprised if there occured Iranun within the Sulu Sultanate that bore Panabas and Kampilan. So in that sense there is certainly plausibility that Panabas and Kampilan existed in the Sulu Sultanate, but yet that is specific to the Sultanate itself, which was a multi-tribal state, and not an attribution to Tausug or Samal, etc... I have never heard of Tausug using or making the weapon, and hence my curiousity at what leads to this identification, which to me would be very groundbreaking news indeed. Then of course there is the melting pot that is Zamboanga, and all the various mish-mashes of weaponry/culture that occur there.

Curious to know if Battara's observance of Padsumbalin/scimitar blade panabas occured more frequently in guadier dress. It would sound like at least one more of this type has been elaborately done.

Ian · 8th December 2004, 08:23 PM

The pictures posted above of the Tausug panabas were discussed extensively in a thread on the old EEWRS Forum found here: http://www.vikingsword.com/ubb/Forum1/HTML/001777.html

Basically, this panabas came from an old Philippine collection with a provenance that indicated a Tausug origin. The dealer from whom I bought this panabas is a person whom I trust and have no reason to doubt. We have done business for many years and he has never, to my knowledge, misled me on the more than 100 items I have obtained from him.

I talked at length with him about the Tausug attribution for this piece, and he was quite aware of how unusual such an attribution would be. Nevertheless, he was sure that it was Tausug based on his discussions with his distinguished, elderly Filipino client who had collected the panabas in the 1930s from Jolo. The sword was old when found in the 1930s, so I have some confidence that it is an example from the 19th C.

This sword was accompanied by several excellent old kris and barung from the same collection, but prices for those were higher ($1000+) and I was out of cash at the time.

Ian.

8th December 2004, 08:23 PM	#3
Ian Vikingsword Staff Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: The Aussie Bush Posts: 4,361	Tausug panabas The pictures posted above of the Tausug panabas were discussed extensively in a thread on the old EEWRS Forum found here: http://www.vikingsword.com/ubb/Forum1/HTML/001777.html Basically, this panabas came from an old Philippine collection with a provenance that indicated a Tausug origin. The dealer from whom I bought this panabas is a person whom I trust and have no reason to doubt. We have done business for many years and he has never, to my knowledge, misled me on the more than 100 items I have obtained from him. I talked at length with him about the Tausug attribution for this piece, and he was quite aware of how unusual such an attribution would be. Nevertheless, he was sure that it was Tausug based on his discussions with his distinguished, elderly Filipino client who had collected the panabas in the 1930s from Jolo. The sword was old when found in the 1930s, so I have some confidence that it is an example from the 19th C. This sword was accompanied by several excellent old kris and barung from the same collection, but prices for those were higher ($1000+) and I was out of cash at the time. Ian.

8th December 2004, 05:32 PM	#1
MABAGANI Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Posts: 221	I heard there were a few of the elaborate panabas floating around in the early collecting days, pre ebay, not sure if Zel took a pic of the one in a private collection when he was out here, massive blade, like the lower one in Rick's pic but a longer, heavier version, finely carved hilt and intricate work done on a brass ferrule, dropping the weight of that blade alone could easily behead... I can't validate the Sulu origin claim on the particular example, but I can pose a question, that if historically there were Iranun communities living in Jolo, wouldn't they likely use their own weaponry and would it constitute it as being used in the Sulu Sultanate? Under some circumstances, I'd say yes. Again, previous works by authors need to be reexamined and checked against other reliable sources.

8th December 2004, 06:25 PM	#2
Federico Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Minneapolis, MN, USA Posts: 312	Given the fluctuating state of the various Sultanates, I would not be surprised if there occured Iranun within the Sulu Sultanate that bore Panabas and Kampilan. So in that sense there is certainly plausibility that Panabas and Kampilan existed in the Sulu Sultanate, but yet that is specific to the Sultanate itself, which was a multi-tribal state, and not an attribution to Tausug or Samal, etc... I have never heard of Tausug using or making the weapon, and hence my curiousity at what leads to this identification, which to me would be very groundbreaking news indeed. Then of course there is the melting pot that is Zamboanga, and all the various mish-mashes of weaponry/culture that occur there. Curious to know if Battara's observance of Padsumbalin/scimitar blade panabas occured more frequently in guadier dress. It would sound like at least one more of this type has been elaborately done.