Obscure Filipino Weapon that Terrified Enemies - the Panabas

The Filipino, and specifically Moro, keris and barong are famous, but the panabas is much less well known. Here we look at this obscure weapon, see how it was made and used, and why it was so feared.
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[@vaughnvillalon9627]

In North Luzon in the Philippines we call this "Tabas" and primarily used as an agricultural tool for clearing grasslands in which the tool has a longer shaft/handle to reach further out. They also make these in shorter handles like the one in the video for a more precise jobs like cutting sugar canes and to prune trees and shrubs. We never use these for meat cutting or bone cutting from animal carcasses, for that purpose we use the "buneng" which comes in difference shapes and sizes for different purposes, "buneng" is more commonly known as machete in the west. By the way the wood used for this weapon's handle in your video looks like "Philippine Ebony".

[@Ohmypeehole]

Now I want one even more for the blackberry bramble I need to cut down. My current favorite is either a long or short handled cane knife. Bill hook type brush blade is ok and the scythe with the brush blade. I am considering a flame thrower as the best option.

[@Eis_]

​@@OhmypeeholeI mean, it really is the tool you're looking for as it's best for cutting down bushes and softer objects.

[@niccosalonga9009]

Pang-Tabas (for chopping) I guess was the generic term for a chopping tool and the current names are derived from that.

[@andzcodz3081]

yeap you can still see this on mindanao rarely and its not the same like this video but the handle is wood.

[@Scy416]

here in Isabela we call it both actually

[@jodricpalisbo7916]

As a long time Filipino weapons enthusiast, & a Filipino myself, this video is a blessing. 👍

[@JohnMerchant-tc3yf]

What I like the most about this guy is he has an appreciation for a large variety of edged weapons from a large variety of cultures. Which shows an open mind that is searching for efficiency over ego.

[@willek1335]

Could it originally come from some utility equipment, similar to many other weapons (e.g. bill) stem from farming equipment. Perhaps it's used to crack open nuts or cut certain leaves. 🤔 Edit: it appears someone else commented that it's used in the processing of sugar canes. Makes sense.

[@elypowell6797]

Have you ever met the Filipinos that can make handguns with battery drills and hack saws? I watched a guy do it once, it was amazing. The gun test fired, fed, and ejected like it was supposed to.

[@aessedai2739]

A blessing because you get your ego stroked by a foreigner who is clearly sucking up

[@lithium7590]

I'm a filipino and i'm quite familiar with this blade/weapon. It is still being widely used up to this day mostly by farmers. The term "panabas" is a shortened word of "pang tabas" which roughly translates to "for cutting". Farmers usually use the panabas for cutting sugarcane, bamboo, rattan, and any plants no bigger than around 3 inches in diameter. Almost all of my uncles have one of these laying around somewhere on their homes and toolsheds and i must say it's such a fun blade to play with when i was still young. I remember sharpening one of these and using it to butcher a pig on one occasion. Very heavy, sharp, and effective. The handle makes it more comfortable to gain momentum on every strike depending on your hand position. Quite a fun and versatile blade i must say.

[@kristinegangman7756]

The panabas short for pang tabas reminds me of Tagalog short for Taga Ilog "river folk". Pampanga which is from Pampang "shore" . Bontoc is from Bundok "mountain". Very convenient way to name places and things XD

[@jehoiakimelidoronila5450]

Yessir. That's how we Filipinos roll 👍

[@hunterboss2628]

In Bahasa Melayu - Tebas/Penebas - same meaning

[@ramonjr.deluna9584]

Bobo mo nman.Moro warriors ang gumagamit niyan at hindi pangtabas ng damo.

[@starsixtyseven195]

​@@jehoiakimelidoronila5450 stop it youre making me want to move from us to phillipines

[@jimtreglio3950]

Matt’s “cool shit I just got my hands on” videos are the best videos.

[@hulkthedane7542]

Bring us more "obscure" weapons, please 👍. You do it SO well!

[@beepboop204]

i loved his videos with Tod

[@hulkthedane7542]

@@beepboop204 More of those, too!

[@Kaiyanwang82]

@@hulkthedane7542 Agree, this was great

[@fieldagentryan]

Jawbone of an ass is a good one ...biblical .

[@gonzalojrvergara6694]

I'm from Maguindanao, a southern province in Mindanao, Philippines. Panabas means "for cutting". Although it can be used as a weapon, it is a multi-purpose cutting or chopping tool. Most household in our place during my childhood owns one. It is common among Maguindanao tribe to carry a panabas to their farm as mostly of the northern tribes to carry a bolo or a machete. And in my opinion, it can also be an excellent weapon for emergency situations.

[@rice6682]

Yes so true during "emergency situations"😉

[@Clouxjet00]

Is it forward curve backwards curve?

[@ennui9745]

@@rice6682 Yeah, emergency situations, like getting ambushed by a saltwater crocodile while out in the jungle, y'know? 😉

[@michaelpaultrawon3638]

The panabas weapon you are holding has the outer curved blade. The inner curved blade are for farming and has a shorter.handle.

[@C-Farsene_5]

@@ennui9745 what’s with that emoji 🤨

[@leonardoglesby1730]

In the movie "Apocalypse Now" which was filmed in the Philippines (standing in for Viet Nam), a panabas was used in the buffalo slaughter at the climax scene.

[@beepboop204]

damn never put that together until now

[@jeremiahmiller3310]

That was my first thought... "don't know what it's called, but I know where I've seen it being used before".

[@inisipisTV]

The Buffalo slaughter scene was not supposed to be in the movie. Francis Ford Coppola needs to film in an Jungle in the Philippines, but first he needs to get permission from a local tribe living there. The Chieftain requested a Water Buffalo as an offering to their God. So Coppola bought them a Buffalo. The Tribe then proceeded to make a ritual slaughter of the Buffalo before they eat it in a feast where Coppola and Film crew were invited. Coppola then decided to film the entire ritual and the slaughter of the Buffalo just as a personal catalog. He then got the bright idea to add it to the film as it perfectly fit with Ritualistic assassination of Marlon Brando character by Martin Sheen’s character in the film’s climax. Not thinking if it’ll pass censors. Yes, that’s a real buffalo being beheaded. You can see how easily that weapon can cut.

[@phunkracy]

​@@inisipisTVmore you know!

[@fuferito]

​@inisipisTV , I'm not sure about the details, but that particular custom of the buffalo slaughter was made aware to Francis Ford Coppola by his wife, Eleanor as told in the documentary, _Hearts of Darkness: A Filmmaker's Apocalypse._

[@bocahbandung26]

Cool video! In Indonesian, "penebas" can mean "slasher/a tool for slashing". South East Asian culture is intertwined in many facets. So interesting.

[@arianecanales2708]

Philippine language is based on Malay,and Austronesian that is why many of our words are similar.

[@odinmatanguihan5086]

interesting that the word means the same from northern luzon to southern tagalog, down to southern mindanao, and even down to indonesia.

[@kristinegangman7756]

Indonesia and Philippines has a lot in common when it comes to language. I think you should try and look up the Kapampangan language which is one of the languages in the Philippines. It has a lot more similar words that has same meaning. I am a Kapampangan myself and I sometimes watch food bloggers that mention a name that sounded so similar to my language that I thought it was a food from the Philippines, specifically Pampanga, but it's actually Indonesian food XD

[@Psycho-th8vb]

In every Philippine video there's always a muslim Indonesian that wanted anyone's attention

[@Shythalia]

I read of an Indonesian hospital named "Harapan Kita". In Filipino, that means "Let's face each other". I wonder if it means the same in your language or does it mean something else? hehe

[@techbear82]

As a Filipino, I'd like thank you for featuring the various gardening tools we use on a daily basis.

[@onri_]

You'd be surprised to learn the Fertilizer you use in your crops was also created as a weapon of war first.

[@jaylorlegaspi3368]

Filipino here, from the island Negros in the Philippines. We call that "Tabas" and primarily used by "Sakada" as an agricultural tool now usually during manual loading of sugar canes on a truck for transport to the milling site for sugar. Sakada's used it to chop and hack the sugar canes to compress it inside the truck.

[@ponkhan]

Pretty much how I know it as well, as a tool first, especially since the name "panabas" already brings to mind chopping down plants haha

[@arquentur6226]

This is exactly what I thought. Thanks for confirming I'm not crazy. Lol

[@julianreast5425]

I’m not philipino but I thought it would have originally been for agricultural purposes such as sugar cane ect..

[@MrThistleMilk]

Malaysian here, we say "Tebas" so the first time I heard and saw this weapon first thing I thought was that would be great to cut tall grass and bamboo😂

[@juliusaupyrian3046]

We use that in pangasinan for sugarcane,it's a very useful tool.

[@riomichellecorrales7096]

"Tabas" means "to slash", since most Filipino languages conjugate verbs to create nouns, the bladed weapon is called "Panabas" (pu-nuh-baas) meaning "for slashing". Like most bladed things in the Philippines, the Panabas is not just a weapon but also a tool - usually used to slash grass, or branches, cut open young coconut, etc. It is not really to cut meat or fish, because of its curve but could be used to slash an animal. Only a few weapons are solely weapons, such as the Kris and Kampilan, the Panabas is not one. The Barong, the Guinunting, Pinuti, Likong, and others also are tools. You will be amazed that the Barong is used in wet markets to cut amd fillet Tuna. The handle is long for two-hand grip or one-hand grip holding it near the blade while the butt of the handle rests at the back of the forearms.

[@user-dg2jz1gi5s]

Tabas DOES NOT mean "To slash". Tabas MEANS "To cut the edges off, to trim the ends, to chop off the excess etc." When used in allusion to a bladed weapon, that weapon is used most likely to chop off the limbs and the neck of the opponent. The correct Tagalog term for the verb "Slash" is "Hiwa" NOT Tabas. Source: I'm a native pure Tagalog from Angono, Rizal

[@riomichellecorrales7096]

@@user-dg2jz1gi5s Thank you for being a pure Tagalog from Angono, Rizal, but Tabas in Visayan is “to slash”, it can also be to cut carefully as in a cloth (usually by a pair of scissors) or also mean a design cut as in a dress. In general Tabas means to slash in Bisaya, which is closely related to “Hagbas”. So it does mean to cut in Tagalog but a Panabas in Bisaya is an implement for slashing.

[@chinmielho]

it's also similar to Indonesian language "Tebas" , also means "slash"

[@glennlikong7916]

Aysus! Arrogant Tagalog like Imelda l!🙄🤣. Also Bisayan Boholano who from Stockton are either related or grew up with uncles all Eskrimador! Or Guro! FYI first language spoken more folks in Provence speak Bisayan and Ilocano and ironically Tagalog is the least spoken native tongue In fact It is the base for National Filipino language based on Tagalog because Marxis(Ilocano). Married the Marie Antoinette Tagalog Imelda! Corrupt clan!😡😤

[@yootoober2009]

@@user-dg2jz1gi5s I'm from Laguna, 74 years old, hiwa is to slice, slash would be tabas and in this case "Panabas" would be short for Pangtabas. If you were told to "magtabas" ka ng damo, you would not be slicing grass stalks, you would slash them with a "Karet". You would use kutsilyo to cut (hiwa) meat or fish. TABAK would be used to cut through meat and bones like an axe.

[@RiderOftheNorth1968]

Please more Filipino tools and weapons! The cultural dispersion of that country have so much interesting things to nerd down into! 🤩

[@itsapittie]

I love these videos on obscure weapons.

[@georgebulbakwa9017]

As much as you mentioned that it wasn't a general purpose garden tool, I had one growing up for that purpose. No distal taper on that one though as it was a cheap garden tool. It just was a front heavy chopping tool. I didn't know it was named that way and it really amuses me that it translates to a warhammer 40k ork weapon.

[@pendantblade6361]

Loving more videos on SE Asian weapons, Matt!

[@engkantoboy01g97]

The "PANABAS" is a "GENERAL USE" bladed tool. Used usually by farmers primarily for general basic cutting purposes (but not for hard cutting like thick hard wood cutting), even soil cutting, cleaning the sides of rice paddies from grass, and for protection because it is long (especially from snakes or other forms of danger from animals or humans)and even a lever for carrying where you can tie a thing to carry in the panabas then carry it in your shoulder which usually is the case when carrying the panabas.The tool is made long for the user to avoid stooping or crouching and making working more easily and usually can be used easily cutting along while walking without stopping with maximum stiriking force with less effort not like the shorter bladed weapons like the BOLO or CRIS. It is a basic tool in the farm here in the Philippines.

[@louferrigno4712]

I have noticed many of these "weapons" are designed as tools first and weapons secondary. I have a barong tagalog and while it's a very capable blade as a weapon the handle is designed only for chopping and cutting. If I tried to thrust with it my hand would run up the blade. I use it primarily in the role you would use a hatchet.

[@TaydolfSwifter]

​@@louferrigno4712it's basically same around the world farming tools turned to weapon.

[@thechroniclesofthegnostic7107]

One nice thing about the Panabas (and all sorts of similarly proportioned weapons across times and cultures) is that ability to change up the grip as the situation warrants; i.e. choking up when one wants/needs a "short sword" and moving the grip back when one wants/needs more of an "arming sword" range.

[@FarmerRiddick]

The Panabas appears to be a very practical weapon. So simple in appearance yet, rather elegant and actually seems more complex in it's forging. I like it!

[@selAlgorithm]

Im filipino and we still use this when clearing tall grass and shrubs around our house. Although the ones we use have the edge in the inside of the curve like a sickle rather than the outside. You can find tons of them in the local public markets here albeit obviously made as a tool than a weapon.

[@shatnermohanty6678]

Most weapons of War started off as Agricultural Tools

[@odinmatanguihan5086]

@@shatnermohanty6678 I don't think a panabas would make a good weapon of war. While there is no standard design for the tool, one used to 'tabas' is typically with the blade on the inner side of the tool since it's more effective that way. It is hard to fight with the blade on the inner side as your blade is bound to get stuck in the body of your enemy. Most weapons of war are either straight, or with the sharpened side on the outer edge of the curve.

[@shatnermohanty6678]

@@odinmatanguihan5086 I'm not an expert on the Panabas ☺️ My reference was to the fact that people made weapons out of tools and implements which they were using regularly and were familiar with. Axes were originally used for cutting wood before they became weapons of War and this was also true of the Nepalese Kukri .

[@odinmatanguihan5086]

@@shatnermohanty6678 the panabas typically has its blade in its inner curve. If I swing it at you, and you blocked it with a wooden shield, it's gonna get stuck and I'm in trouble. A panabas is also typically of light construction, it can't withstand repeated blows. More importantly, you have to look at the language. The word is a descriptive noun. A hammer is called martilyo, but can also be called pamukpok. The term pamukpok doesn't refer to a specific tool but just to describe what I'll use the tool for. I can easily call a monkeywrench pamukpok if I use it to hit something. A spear is more properly called sibat, but I can also call a spear as panusok, in the same way I can call a barbecue stick a panusok. Similarly, a panabas is for any bladed instrument you can use for slashing vegetation(or even just a plain narrow stick if you can use it to cut some thin vegetation), though it's often blades with the sharp edge on the inner curve and usually with a long handle so that you don't have to bend your back low, and the blade is typically thick enough to withstand the blow, but as light as possible so that your arms won't quickly grow weary from all that slashing.

[@shatnermohanty6678]

@@odinmatanguihan5086 Amazing 👍 Thanks for the info , I'm always looking to increase my knowledge 🙏

[@robo5013]

I remember reading years ago about the Philippine-American war and the books described the Moros as using machetes. I now have to believe that they were referring to Barongs and Panaba and just never bothered to learn the local names of the weapons. I now am imagining the conflict in a whole new light as they would have been using purpose built weapon not tools as weapons as the word machete implied.

[@chaimafaghet7343]

Or possibly is was mostly just a bunch of cheap machetes. Same as people getting precious over tomahawks, it's just a cheap boarding axe.

[@matthewlawrence7056]

The Moro people very often carried purpose built swords. Many people including Filipinos that aren’t knowledgeable about historical Filipino blades confuse them with modern copies that are indeed similar to machetes.

[@visayanmissnanny2.076]

@@chaimafaghet7343Tbf, Filipino short swords are not just weapons but also tools. The dedicated weapons like the Kris is only used by people with a title. Like a Datu or a prominent Muslim male family member

[@arianecanales2708]

the Moros of Mindanao or the Southerners often either use the Kris bladed weapon or Kampilan in fighting. The Northerners and the Visayans uses the Bolos, Barong, and Panabas.

[@arianecanales2708]

The Muslims often carry the Kris. Non-Muslims uses bolos and panabas.

[@johnmaker9534]

I was shocked when you first brough that into view! My ex-wife is Filipina, her parents came to the US when she was an infant having earned citizenship in the Philippines. They had a crossed pair of these as wall art! They were real and very cool!

[@qwyxiiiqwyxiii6071]

cool display, and a bit scary too.

[@fddumagpi]

Yes, Mr. John. I’m a Filipino and a husband to a Filipina and you don’t mess around, especially when you a PANABAS is within reach of your spouse . . 😅😅😅

[@CDKohmy]

Gotta say, the barong is the most aesthetically pleasing. There is a subtle mix of seax and yataghan in the design, even like some forms of Greek kopis.

[@bradfarrahgerwing154]

I have the hand forged cold steel one made of L6....its a pleasure to weild and use

[@RiderOftheNorth1968]

A blade naturally evolved from use is often very beautiful. Just look at the graceful lines of the Khukuri or the simple perfection of a traditional nordic knife like the finnish puukko or the old swedish mora.

[@robertb8673]

Funny that you say that about the barong.👍 I was thinking a C shaped kopis handel would fit very well. 🤔

[@phillipmargrave]

Or the falcata

[@CDKohmy]

@@phillipmargrave Yes, though there was a tendency for kopises to have the more slender and less curved blade than falcatas.

[@jwrine3631]

Nooooo waaaaay! This is one of my favorite weapons! I really appreciate your thoughts on this. Keep looking into examples of the panabas, there are so many strange versions.

[@magd_123_xyz7]

I remember my late Lola would have 2 of them (tool variants since we own a large farm in Leyte) 1 would be used for work and the other one kept under the bed. My mom asked her one time why she kept the rusty one under the bed. She replied that she’s old and if she can’t chop the thief, at least when she cut them, the rust will finish the job lmaoo. Now my uncle keeps it like an heirloom

[@mt_baldwin]

This was in a video game- I'm wracking my brain trying to remember which one but can't remember, it was 7-8 years ago. I researched it because of this game and because I thought the game might have had it wrong, which showed it being used as a back swept blade and the internet said it was a forward tilted blade. Turns out the internet was wrong and the game was all along. Kudos to the devs for their research.

[@rickrogue6993]

Do you find it in treasure chests, old pots, under rocks, or do they fall off slayed monsters and skeletons, along with precious stones, and coins?

[@enginnonidentifie]

Echoing others, I love seeing the videos on less well known weapons from a whole bunch of cultures! Lots of interesting things to discuss to be sure so giving those pieces and martial traditions air time is great.

[@j.f.fisher5318]

Omg this is the foundation of my new favorite fantasy weapon for a jungle or forest culture. In the forward curving configuration you get bill-hook functionality for cutting brush, a light axe, then with a false edge added you can give a pretty good stabbing point that's well-aligned with the wrist. But with a shield if you hold it the other way around its also good for stabbing around or over enemy shields too.

[@SeemsLogical]

I knew that was the Panabas because I saw it for the first time on Skallagrim's channel. The reproduction models look vastly different. Antique Panabas are more handle than blade most of the time.

[@beepboop204]

pet peeve: modern hobbyists feeling the need to "improve" ancient styles of weapons because they dont understand them 😉

[@ketsuekinikushimi4978]

If you weaponize a hockey stick...

[@odinmatanguihan5086]

yep, more handle than blade because you want the blade close to the ground without having to bend your back too much.

[@odinmatanguihan5086]

@@beepboop204 panabas isn't even a weapon. It is a tool that is difficult to use as a weapon. Also the word isn't exactly specific to a particular design, it's more like a descriptive noun. So the moment you modify it to use for something else, you can no longer call it as such. If you redesign it to chop wood, you should then call it pangsibak. If you redesign it for war, it should then be called panaga, or even pamugot.

[@beepboop204]

@@odinmatanguihan5086 interesting thoughts

[@jonathanlopez6953]

swords ot weapons the philippines are usually multipurpose. Kris is a status symbol, golok borong ang panabas use to chop long weeds or uses for harvesting.

[@wudzpogi]

Panabas is used mainly for clearing tall grass or bushes. The curved part is used to pull the grass or bush inward. We use a shorter handle for better control. We sometimes use it with wooden stick that has an inward short branch to drag down the grass so you can chop it with the panabas. A stick in your support hand and the panabas on the other. That's how we clear tall bushes or small jungle. 😁

[@GodzillasaurusJr]

Despite being a Philippines enjoyer as well as a melee weapon fan, I did in fact not know this weapon. And now I do, and it's a really cool weapon - thank you!

[@odinmatanguihan5086]

"tabas" actually means more like to reap than to chop(or it can also mean to trim). The word "panabas" itself is more descriptive of what the tool is used for, which means there is no standard shape, we simply use the term for whatever tool we use to do that particular activity. More commonly however, it's usually with a slight curve and with the blade on the inner side of the curve(because these shapes are more effective for such task). The long handle is so that you have better reach and don't have to bend down as much when cutting grass/weeds/sugarcane close to the ground(I've seen ones long enough that allows you to cut weeds close to the ground while hardly bending your back at all, with the handle being long enough not just to reach the ground, but also with the hilt extending farther back as a counterbalance as you swing the tool repeatedly. There is no standard thickness either, the ones used for harvesting sugarcane are usually thicker so that they have more momentum as they hit the sugarcane, whereas for grass, we'd sometimes just lash a broken piece of sickle into a long stick and use it to cut. If it's just the right weight and length, you can actually mow the lawn faster than when you use a lawn mower.

[@yourhighschoolenglishteach8405]

proud to own a modern filipino panabas. the rear point on mine is distally tapered and sticks out quite a bit, making the strike with the point (holding the weapon edge up, curving forwards) quite powerful. like the tip of a billhook, but unsharpened

[@washingtoncommandcenter5541]

I LOVE Pilipino weapons. The Panabas, AKA short hockey stick of doom, is awesome, LOVE the Ginunting & most of all the Kalinga/Igorot headhunting axe, I just love the shape & design. I think the erroneous description of the Panabas would make a really cool weapon too, like a big Kukri/Axe combo.

[@ponkhan]

Oh man, always appreciate seeing the panabas get some love, and someone talking about how much mythology surrounds our tools/weapons. Great stuff!

[@OwlskiTV]

Been personally looking at the Pira weapon. As you mentioned; Philippines just has a diverse range of various bolos, which differ depending which part of the region you're in.

[@jacquesmaloubier6655]

Very interesting. I would suggest an addition to your obscure weapons series, the Iroquois war club. I have seen various forms of it and have seen handmade ones at powwows in the northeastern US. One form was popularized in the movie Last of the Mohicans. I would be interested in your thoughts on this subject.

[@konstellashon1364]

The one with the ball head? I wonder how precise they got it by hand.

[@jacquesmaloubier6655]

@@konstellashon1364 there were/are numerous forms

[@lemonZzzzs]

They really do look originally designed for brush clearing. The more expensive material ones, though, are probably more of a status thing, as you said. I wonder if there's a gold-inlaid intricate, exquisitely crafted hoe of the best steel and exotic woods for its time out there somewhere :P

[@daryldescallar5795]

Thanks for sharing."Panabas (or Pang tabas/pantabas- meaning for cutting from the root word 'tabas' meaning to cut according to pattern) I learned that in reality, the markings at the back of the blade are not decorations but the number of people killed with that weapon. It is also done on the kris sword. Most Filipino blades were for agricultural purposes but also doubles as weapons. If you'd notice, the panabas has no cross-guard unlike the 'kris' and the 'kampilan' which are made as weapons. So, the 'panabas' is primarily an agricultural tool. Whichever tool is utilized more, the user becomes more adept in its use for work and also can use it effectively for combat.

[@alun7006]

Fascinating. There's something deeply appealing to me about long-handled choppy bois like this. Seems like a very versatile and practical implement. Heavy enough and sized to hit something hard two-handed, light and balanced enough to be useful one-handed.

[@KingRat71]

You do have to also consider it is a “long” weapon relative to the users since historically the PH was a low dairy culture so people were generally shorter. So in the West we feel that is a short weapon, but if you were a 5’2” Filipino that is a longer weapon than it seems to you. Think more like the length of a Dane Axe (although it is not an axe) or a glaive for a shorter warrior.

[@PJDAltamirus0425]

Axe axes are middle of body to arm pit length and glaives are man length and longer and to matt that is short sword length. You are overestimating how much lossing a foot does with handling. It is arming sword or short longsword esuqe for a pilipino, not polearm length and handling.

[@silviuvisan505]

Average viking was 5'6 so hardly a big difference

[@ennui9745]

Average male Filipino height now is 5'4" and rising, though I don't know what it was back then. Europeans were probably not as tall back then as they are now either. You do make a good point about the low dairy culture in the Philippines (and in Asia more generally before modern times, as most Southeast and East Asians are lactose intolerant in adulthood, unlike Europeans). Pretty sure there's a genetic component to us Southeast Asians being the shortest major group of people, but probably not drinking milk past infanthood plays a role? And nutrition in general, which is why people here and elsewhere are getting taller.

[@Psycho-th8vb]

Indonesians still shortest people in world😆

[@ramonlijauco7563]

The way you use the blade, in the Tagalog provinces, it would be called a "halabas" It would also be mounted on a longer handle. Where I am, the "panabas" is essentially a scythe and would look like the Okinawan Kobudo weapon called the "Kama".

[@pangulusaat691]

I'm Indonesian, and the Filipino Karish in my contry has identical look, but a lot shorter in length, and it is called the "Keris" (popularly used by the troops of the Sultan of Java).

[@Diyel]

I think the Moros in our country call it Keris as well. That, or Kris. I never heard someone or read anything that spells it as such.

[@kzm-cb5mr]

@@Diyel The Moros call it kalis. This was also the old term for sword in Tagalog, but was replaced by espada...

[@Psycho-th8vb]

In every Philippine video there's always a muslim Indonesian that wanted anyone's attention

[@arquentur6226]

I'm a first generation American born to a filipino immigrant, and im not sure how many filipinos Matt consulted, but as I've understood it, in the family of tools on the scale from pure weapon to pure farm tool, the panabas *absolutely* is about 80% a garden and farming tool, 20% martial weapon. Try finding modern FMA schools that teach panabas use as opposed to pinuti or ginunting.

[@j.f.fisher5318]

That would make sense as a second-line weapon. To your understanding which side is usually edged?

[@arquentur6226]

@j.f.fisher5318 I'm no expert nor authority, but the outside edge as seen in this video seems conventional. There are farming tools they use in Cambodia and other S.E asian countries that have a very similar blade profile shape to the panabas.

[@stl7694]

I am no expert either but the backswept edge follows the natural path of a swinging arm for better slicing. If I had to guess the crop is tall enough for someone to stand upright and slice the base. As an aside the edge on that side makes it a whole lot easier to chop a snake on the ground.

[@selAlgorithm]

Nah you're right. I'm Filipino and we still use this when clearing tall grass and shrubs around our house. Matt's specimen seems more oriented to war due to how it's decorated tho.

[@caelestigladii]

@@gj1234567899999I’d imagine it’s easier to cut sugar cane and other tall grass with it.

[@artawhirler]

I hope that you will do a whole video about the barong and the keris. Beautiful weapons, and I don't think you've ever given either of them a complete video before.

[@yootoober2009]

Kris i believe is the word..

[@artawhirler]

@@yootoober2009 Right, same weapon and "almost" the same word for it. Kris is what it's called in Indonesia and also what most Americans call it. But the Moros, who live on the island of Mindanao within sailing distance of Indonesia, call it the keris. You can easily see it's the same word for the same weapon, just pronounced a bit differently on the different islands. Same thing with the Moro "barong". In Borneo, just the next major island to the south of Mindanao, they have a very similar big chopping blade that they call a "parang". So on closely neighboring islands we see very similar weapons with almost identical names. Not really too surprising when you think about it. (But still, it was like a revelation the day I realized this myself!)

[@thossi09]

Yes, more Filipino (or even just SA and SEA more generally) weapons, please :)

[@brittakriep2938]

Be carefull with the letters SA when the context is not totally clear! I am german, in my country it causes often problems, when SA or SS is written!

[@goatdolphins]

im american, i cant belive chevrolet has had the nerve to build SS models for years. @@brittakriep2938

[@thossi09]

@@brittakriep2938 Oh right. I thought it was clear from the context of having just mentioned Filipino weapons. And did the SA have special weapons in the 1930s, different from the SS or Wehrmacht?

[@brittakriep2938]

@@thossi09 : A) It is clear, that you meant Southern Asia with SA, but there are always idiots. B) On current german indentification signs/ plates for Cars, there are at first two or three letters for the Kreisstadt ( district? town), then two other aetters and four numbers. Once the number was given by the Amt ( Office), but nowadays, if you pay 10 Euros more, you can get the letters you want after town description. Many people use this possibility to use the letters of their same, for example someone with the name Peter Müller can get PM. Now years ago, a coworker had a girlfriend with the name Stefanie S., it was not allowed, to get the letters SS on the car sign ( the problem is solved, they are married and SK makes no problems. C) I am Brittas boyfriend, only using her Computer too. As a conservative patriotic man i can understand, why so many people in 1920s /1930s voted for a man , who destroyed German Reputation, when he became german leader. I understand why he was supported by many germans, but i don' t understand or support, what this man and his supporters did. Now to your question about the SA called armed wing of of his political party, a good information in english language is a thin book from british Osprey Military company. In 1920s, there had been both communist uprisings, and nationalistic ones ( in which the then small party of the noted man was involved). After this uprisings there had been a number of more or less uniformed and armed wings of some parties and organisations. The most well known today are the Sturmabteilung ( Nationalsocialist), the Roter Frontkämpferbund ( Communist), Stahlhelmbund ( monarchist/ Nationalist) and Reichsbanner Schwarz Rot Gold ( of SPD, oldest existing german party, then more socialist than today). The law situation: Weapon Laws in then Germany was much more liberal than now, but there had been limitations, partly by Versailles Treaty ( pistols with more than 8mm caliber or barrels longer than 100 mm had been no more allowed to be produced or sold) , partly by german law of imperial era .No weapons like swordcanes, rifles and shotguns could be easier bought than pistols, and since late 1890s a CCW licence ( Waffenschein) was necessary. (Up to 1890s most german policemen on foot carried only a saber in frech ,Briquet' Style). Now for the noted paramilitary organisations uniforms and even the military Backpacks ( Sturmgepäck, Tornister) had been allowed, but no weapons. But you surely know, that murder is forbidden for centuries, and still happens. They had weapons at home, rifles and pistols floating arround from wwl, and legally bought privately , when it was still possible ( In 1928 the Schusswaffengesetz caused, that buying a pistol became as difficult, as is today). But the members of this organisations used of course also licencefree edged weapons or teargas pistols ( See Forgotten Weapons channel the Video about the Scheintod Revolver). When doing a parade, open carry of weapons was not possible, but many carried knifes, knuckles, and short Clubs, in german Totschläger or Stahlrute ( Note the words Rute and rod!) , in english (?) sap,cosh, Blackjack. Or canes, in interwar periode still common a mens Equipment. So, before 1933 all members of Sturmabteilung had no official service weapons, similar organisations, being forbidden 1933 also not. After 1933 many SA members, who joined the SA not so much for political reason, but for: This is a paramilitary organisation of our war comrade AH, who wants to transform the Sturmabteilungen into a new regular Army, had been dissappointed , when this not happened and they didn' t got a job as soldier/ NCO/ Officer. But i don' t know if this was the reason for the Events, now known as Röhm Putsch. D) After 1933 the SA was mostly unarmed, and rather fast made smaller in number ( Mr. AH feared , the large and well organized Organisation could really do a Coup d' Etat) and as far as i know, they had no extraordinary weapons. E) A german language Magazine about Military History makes sometimes , Special Versions ' with only one topic. In such a Special Version only about the Headquarters of AH, there was an article about this man's personal protection. After 1933 the protection by a violent Gang only was no more possible. But before 1933 most bodyguards , from Schutzstaffel had no CCW licence, there had been many officials and politicians, who didn' t liked AH, respected the law and tried to give supporters of AH no weapons. So in the noted magazine was written, that before 1933 AH was often escorted by a group of strong trained men of SS , wearing motorcyle dress of the time and blue Caps, for no CCW licence reason armed with a Nilpferdpeitsche ( Hippo hide whip/Sjambok)! F) I have Asperger disorder, so please excuse, that i have written a novel as answer.

[@jlan7844]

I may not have known it was a real thing but I instantly recognized the design of this weapon from the thumbnail alone. I've been watching a playthrough of Final Fantasy 16, and one of the factions in that game use these exclusively for their generic grunts. I had wondered where in the world they'd come up with that design, I just never guessed it was reality.

[@mistahanansi2264]

I only knew about it because it was featured on the show Forged In Fire. The winner actually made a really good one.

[@glynnmitchell9253]

I see a striking similarity to the “gunstock “ war club used by the American Indian tribes. The clubs were so named by Europeans no doubt because they are shaped like a gun stock in that period. But these people had this weapon before the introduction of firearms. The weapon was made of wood. Interestingly, when metal became available, they added a spike or cutter to the same edge you are noting as the cutting edge of your weapon witnessing to the manner of use of the American weapon. You can see an example of the gunstock club in the movie “The Last of the Mohicans”. It makes me wonder if tracing such odd weapons gives a hint about human migration.

[@erroneous6947]

That’s what I was thinking. A buddy of mine made one of those he made from the core of an oak tree with a large steel spike in it. Brutal weapon.

[@davidyoung745]

I did know the name, but not nearly as much detail as you covered in the video. I like the possible connection to the Dha and the comparison to the Da Dao. It really is a beautiful piece.

[@LezzyMania_02]

Panabas is not just a weapon, but it's also a agricultural tool for cutting down trees and other Vegetation such as Grass and Branches. Panabas has been used by Headhunters(I Think) in Moro tribes as their primary weapon to severed heads of their foes because of its sharpness and curved like blade at the end of the blade.

[@miguelmendoza4513]

Panabas. One of the few 2-handed weapons of the Philippines.

[@garynaccarato4606]

There is also the kampilan sword however one handed swords are a lot more prevalent in the Philippines.

[@toddellner5283]

Kamplian could be used one handed or two handed. So can spears. But yeah, mostly one-handed weapons.

[@garynaccarato4606]

@@toddellner5283 but I'm guessing that when it came to the spear in the Philippines using it with one in hand in conjunction with a shield in the other hand still would have definitely been the most common way to use a spear by far.I also think that one factor that could influence something like this has to do with what type of armor or lack thereof would they have had and I'm guessing that because of the climate of many areas of the Philippines that many people wouldn't have been using much if any armor or that the armor would not have really been the most heavy armor alot of the times.

[@toddellner5283]

Depending on a lot of things, you are probably right. I've got an old set of Filipino armor - overlapping buffalo horn scales. probably not as good as even halfway decent metal. But I also have 19th century photos of warriors from the area loaded for bear both with and without shields. A friend who practices a very old FMA based on the spear, kampilan and keris has shown material with the spear both by itself and with spear. As always .... context... and we have lost a lot of the context over more than a century. @@garynaccarato4606

[@ItsASuckyName]

Would be interesting to see you cover some Indonesian weapons, especially the klewang which was actually adopted by the Dutch KNIL (Colonial Dutch-Indies Army) and turned into a cutlass type of sword. Like every south east asian country, lots of different weapons there.

[@danielquest8644]

That was awesome! I would love to hear more about shields from the Philippines! I have seen some other swords and shields in video from Dan Inasanto…. Specifically the video at the Smithsonian… and his training videos on the martial arts from the Philippines. Never seen that weapon before.

[@bjornronaldson6017]

I do know the Panabas, but not as well as I would like, most of my familiarity is with the barong, as that is what I mostly trained in. More information on weapos from Philippines is always welcome and this was a cool video. Thank you!

[@jewelgem8074]

I would love to see a full video going into more depth about the hatchets during the 100 years war that you mention at 16:27

[@turtlewolfpack6061]

I have known about these for more than a few years now. A few points, as a historian you should know that an axe does NOT need a socket in the head to be an axe. Even Filipino people refer to these as a type of axe and there are many different blade styles. Not really obscure, but pretty hard for Westerners to obtain.

[@ElkaPME]

tbf, it's basically a sword-axe hybrid bc it practically a cleaver

[@mcwiwi5915]

​@@ElkaPME a glaive, perhaps?

[@tonyyarbray]

yeah it's used like an axe as well or a cleaver maybe would be more of a correct description... i cringed at the proclamation of why it wasn't an axe

[@jamesbedwell8793]

A note on the final point you made about hatchets etc. being used in the Hundred Years War, the tomahawk was also used in a similar way during the American Revolutionary War. Most notably at the Battle of Concord, there's records of American militiamen finishing off wounded British soldiers with tomahawks. It continued throughout the war, mostly in smaller battles and skirmishes.

[@radivojevasiljevic3145]

So that part of The Patriot was historically accurate.

[@massaosaito4084]

Uhm, I might be going crazy, "BUTT" the machette like shaped blades were popular on south-est asia cuz they would also be useful as tools for cutting through the jungles there? Yes, combat blades are differently designed than tool blades, but they could have prefer a balance between the 2 in that part of the world

[@bhoyfolk-naught3976]

The root word of panabas is "tabas." There are a few ways to pronounce the word and each have its connotation. If you pronounce it with both of the "As" with a "streched a" sound (taa-baas) it connotes cutting something soft, example. "Tinabas and tela" - "The cloth was cut." If you put stress on both of the "As" (tuh-bus) it connotes a specific way of cutting weeds. Tabas (tuh-bus) is done in a swinging motion in which weeds are cut to a stump. The word "panabas" if pronounced as puh-naa-baas, would mean a tool for cutting something soft (like shears or a knife). If pronounced as puh-nuh-bus would mean a tool specialized for cutting weeds to a stump. Thus there is a grisly context (sorry Matt, I'm stealing your catchphrase) here. No matter how you want to pronounce the panabas, as a weapon, the people who fall victim to its savage blade is being compared to something soft (like cloth) or weeds being cut down to a stump.

[@silviuvisan505]

Tela is also spanish for cloth. Maybe because of spanish empire they got the name.

[@johngilbert974]

Love learning history about weapons - more like this please ! Even if they aren’t obscure 😁

[@kaoskronostyche9939]

Looks a lot like the Dacian Falx (spelling?). Also looks a lot like the Crusader Chopper - Maciejowski / Morgan Bible Falchion although the Falchion has far less curvature ... with, of course, with the cutting edge on the other side. Interesting design. Thank you for another cool weapon presentation. Cheers!

[@markzosemsuello4016]

Wait when see a ginunting sword/knife and you say its look like a daciam falx

[@kaoskronostyche9939]

@@markzosemsuello4016 You bet, sonny jim. I have the right to notice two curved weapons and decide for myself that they look similar. Do you insult people just to make yourself look stupid? Or to make yourself an a-h()le?

[@jonathanshelton4549]

The back edge decoration as you call it is actually used for traction against other blades for defensive techniques like the luack or krump hau in german terms.

[@smvr666th]

I think it also acts like a saw. It's mainly for agricultüre 😅

[@HunterGargoyle]

I know of the Panabas its a very nice weapon and a great chopper i made one for myself based on dimensions i found from a museum... its really great i enjoy using it to clear brush around my property

[@j.f.fisher5318]

Which side do you use for the cutting edge?

[@HunterGargoyle]

@@j.f.fisher5318 since its curved backwards its the side most sabers are edged i used a blade shape similar to a Turkish Pala for mine but dimensions are functionally identical to the museum piece i based it on

[@Braindazzled]

That was really interesting! I have a new obscure weapon for you. When I was a kid and my grandmother used to take me to the Met Museum's arms and armor wing, they once had a display case featuring three "throwing axes." These were not like anything I'd seen before of since, but a curved wooden handle about 18-20" and a small head about the size of a playing card, but of a sort of rhomboid shape. If I remember right, the caption said they were attached to a knight's saddle and thrown as needed. Sound familiar?

[@TheLoveTruffle]

I've seen Panabas before, but this is the first I've seen anyone discussing them in any detail. Very cool.

[@Leftyotism]

I didn't knew this fascinating blade! Thank you very much for showing it to us and for telling us about it!

[@ArmouryTerrain]

I enjoy your obscure weapon series. What would make it even better is if you could tell us how the different weapons were carried and sheathed.

[@tiltskillet7085]

Great video, Matt! But somewhat lacking in terrified enemies.... :P Speaking of Filipino weapons, I hope some day to see something from you about the ginunting, one of my favorite looking blades ever.

[@eelchiong6709]

A true ginunting is now illegal. Since it's a long, slim blade with a very sharp point, it is argued to have only one purpose. To kill. You can't give the excuse that it is used for wood chopping, soil digging, or grass slashing since its light, long blade make it impractical. Though it can go through a man's body with ease.

[@tiltskillet7085]

@@eelchiong6709 I don't know anything about UK weapon laws. Would there not be an exemption for an antique ginunting?

[@eelchiong6709]

@@tiltskillet7085 Antiques maybe. I also don't know about UK laws. But an American expat friend of mine pulled it off during the early 2000s. He brought some titanium blocks to a blacksmith in Tabaco City, which is known for blade forging, ordered two replicas of Moro Kris. He showed me a photo of them hanging in his wall in California. He didn't say how he got it through both Philippine and American custom officials. The Kris was copied from my late dad's(born 1920) Kris, who got it from his uncle, a son of the last Datu of Taluksangay. Dad was half Chinese and half muslim Tausug. That Kris now belongs to my eldest brother.

[@dreembarge]

Thanks, Matt. Always enjoy your vids.

[@kroogle2294]

The version of the Panabas that Matt is holding definitely looks like it’s an old war blade - not just for display and ceremony but for messing someone’s day up. Though I’m of the understanding that they could also be commonly used as tools considering how Filipinos tend to treat tools and weapons as potentially interchangeable. Regardless of original intended purposes.

[@somerando1073]

That's an interesting weapon. I think I would prefer the reverse edged one you said sometimes were used. That corner on the back would be devastating to hit with if that was the edged side. I wonder why that wasn't the default configuration rather than the exception?

[@Diyel]

Because if you're paying attention to the video, it already has been mentioned that it's mainly a farmer's tool and not a specialized weapon like the Kris or Katana.

[@somerando1073]

@@Diyel Or like the billhook?

[@Eis_]

As a Moro, this is a Tabas (probably a shortened, local term that we use) and we just use this to cut down Bananas. Lmao. As a matter of fact, this is what I'd usually look for when I want to cut down tree branches (or as I mentioned, Bananas) rather than the Bolo as it has more reach, more blade, and better leverage. I didn't even know this was used as a weapon, though sometimes I do like to make it seem like it is and have some fun fighting the wind in my backyard. I must say, at least mine does, it's really forgiving on edge alignment. I mean, I'm not trained in swords or fighting per se, but it is easier for me to cut with a Tabas than with others. About the axe topic, while it can function like one, it's not really. For one, really hard objects (like a log) aren't great for a Tabas. Trust me, it's not fun having that almost 3 foot blade fly off into the distance.

[@seashore1909]

Thank you for sharing this video. Very informative. Much appreciated.

[@SwordsMaster7.]

I knew it was a panabas, but I didn't have nearly so much information on it before. Thanks for the video!

[@coralmar5329]

I had not heard about the panabas - but I will address my Filipino colleague on the subject now ,😂

[@terrenusvitae]

That sword looks like the result of a Kopesh having relations of the forbidden kind with a Falx.

[@beepboop204]

get to the choppasssss

[@diezelfunk]

I'm a moro myself, so this video is a delight. Keep it up, Matt!

[@artawhirler]

Thanks for doing this video! I'm a big fan of Moro edged weapons but did not know about this one until now!

[@eunoia693]

I was proud to say I DID know this one! Made famous by HBO's Game of Thrones, this is Night King's weapon (alongside his javelins)

[@doopdoopdopdop7424]

Didn’t he use it once against a tree and never again?

[@andrewverburg1805]

It reminds me of a Native American Wooden War Club but instead it is sharpened steel.

[@beepboop204]

same idea of bonking, just one bonk is sharper lol

[@j.f.fisher5318]

When I saw the silhouette on the thumbnail I assumed the same.

[@beepboop204]

@@j.f.fisher5318 also looks like african throwing sticks. dunno if id like a panabas thrown at me either

[@andrewverburg1805]

@@beepboop204 brilliant description

[@jonathanlopez6953]

It’s probably the same with golok and kris that the decorative ribets meant to showcase the kill counts by accessorizing it with pieces of hair or clothes of defeating in battle.

[@DarkR0ze]

look at the comment above yours

[@hdgehog6]

I knew about this weapon but NOW I know it is sharpened on the outside edge!

[@terryboehler5752]

Great explanation. The Morro rebellion: it holds a place in American handgun history. Supposedly the handgun was not very deadly against these people. Various reasons are given. The result was a love affair with a larger caliber. Roosevelt(teddy) was one of my heros until I heard an order ascribed to him concerning the Morro people. " Any child 10 years and above is fair game". Just no.

[@acidic_magpie]

Yeah, that is apparently what led to the invention of the colt 45. They found that 38 calibre handguns did not have enough stopping power against the Moros.

[@bradfarrahgerwing154]

The morose used to have a ritual with a lot of psychotropic herbs and would wrap limbs tightly with wire (stop bleeding)and would go full kamikaze....scared the shiite out of the marines lopping limbs and heads taking multiple gunshots....along with the 45 caliber they started giving marines leather and steel collars to,prevent beheading.....THIS IS HOW LEATHERNECKS NICKNAME started

[@reuzlwickluwican2351]

Good video, would watch at silent nights sometimes.

[@imranazmi7315]

Panabas from root word tabas. In Malay, we called tebas, which means chop, slash or cut. Panabas mean choper or cutter. The main purpose is for execution. In Islamic law (bear in mind panabas is more popular in southern Philippines and also part of Sabah, Malaysia where majority Muslim lives) we use something quite heavy but sharp to make it fast in cutting and to reduce pain. So, panabas is the most suitable weapon for that purpose. The holes in panabas are not only for decoration, but it also bring killmarks to show how many enemies are killed by the panabas. In war, the panabas bearer will stay at the last line of defence. Their purpose are to kill any enemies that no longer hope to live and to relieve their pain.

[@Greenman13-31]

In 2000 took silat/kali and learned about the panabas and purchased one, wicked tool. Great video

[@Praiser9224]

We have one. One of our family heirloom! Good job on the information! Thank you.

[@battletoys1645]

Here in Batangas ,Philippines the word " Tabas " means cutting grass or branches, "Panabas" are tools for cutting grass and branches. Nowadays the most used tool for cutting grass is the sickle or karet.

[@coldwarrior78]

I read about it in the regimental history of one of the American infantry regiments which fought the Morons. Based on the description, I never would have guessed it looked like that, expecting it to be sharpened on the inside edge. Thanks for finding this very cool weapon.

[@AbuBakar-Ironwood.]

I like your fluid movement of the sword swing. Real sword master. Regards from Sarawak , Malaysia

[@a.d.samano7873]

I'm Filipino too and its a first for me to know about this. Thanks for featuring this.

[@rolandosarandi1735]

awesome! you're so good in demonstrating how to slash using the panabas sir..

[@yosharioIII]

What an exciting find! I'm a fan of most filipino swords so I did know about the panabas already. I learned about it a while ago when I was reading about other long-hafted swords like the pudao and nagamaki. Super interesting weapon!

[@TenchiBushi]

I actually did now this weapon! Though I never trained with it personally. A number of Pekiti Tirsia guys I have seen used it. Pekiti Tirsia & Bujinkan practitioner in Tokyo here! Greetings!

[@ivanstrydom8417]

Superb content sir. Such interesting history.

[@beerginvodca]

Nice one. Can't wait for you to get your hands on the notorious head hunter's axe of Kalinga. My personal fave but scares me at the same.

[@johncook3817]

Fascinating. Thanks!😊

[@benellorin4287]

The Barongs and Kris were primarily personal weapons of war with sheath and worn on the waist. The Panabas however were and are still the chosen tool for clearing bushes and tall grasses on the fields with overgrown trees and vegetation. The name Panabas came from the Filipino word TABAS which means to cut or clear overgrown vegetation. When I was young in Davao, Philippines, my Father and my 2 older brothers used the Panabas as our main tool for Clearing LATE or overgrown vegetation up to 10 feet high and we use the Badang or Bolo or Axe to cut the bigger trees. Yes the Panabas may have been used in execution just like the Kampilan but nowadays it is being used as a clearing tool by farmers which is a perfect tool for clearing rice fields irrigation dikes. Very versatile tool and weapon...TY for informing us on this weapon / tool...

[@-RONNIE]

Thanks for the video 👍🏻