I watched this Forge in Fire episode (The Panabas is the Ultimate Battle Axe (Season 4) | History | Forged in Fire, Forged in Fire, YouTube, Jan 4, 2022) about the Philippine sword – The Panabas.  And it stirred my curiosity – what is the origin story of this strangely shaped weapon?  And how was it used?

Origin

The word panabas comes from the root word tabas (to chop off) and the prefix pang- (used for), literally translating to “for chopping” or a “chopping tool”.¹  According to AI, the word panabas is considered a Mindanaoan word (or more specifically a Moro/Sulu) word rather than a native Tagalog word.  I chatted with a friend who is Ilocano.  Ilocanos call this sword panabas. She said Tagalogs tend to use the word “pangtabas”. 

The panabas was primarily used in the southern Philippines, specifically on the island of Mindanao. I found sources most closely associated the panabas with these people and/or locations:

• The Maranao and Maguindanao Moros are the primary groups identified with the two-handed panabas.²  The Maranaos is a Moro group native to the Lanao del Sur province on Mindanao Island.  The Maguindanaos is a Moro group primarily inhabiting the southwestern Mindanao region, particularly the provinces of Maguindanao del Norte and Maguindanao del Sur. 
• Liguasan Marsh: The farmers of this large wetland and swamp area, located in the south-central Mindanao region covering parts of Cotabato, Maguindanao del Norte, Maguindanao del Sur, and Sultan Kudarat provinces, were known to use the panabas.³

Utilization

Agricultural Tool. Like many Filipino weapons, the panabas began as an agricultural tool. It may have descended from the Indonesian parang latok, a long sword with a sharply curved blade well-suited for chopping, and began its life as a jungle knife used for clearing thickets and branches.⁴ [Check out the pictures on the  Wikipedia’s Parang Latok and Wikipedia’s Panabas pages.]  In various regions of Mindanao, it is still referred to by its utility names, such as tabas or pangtabas (meaning “grass cutter”)⁵. It was used to:

• Clear Land: The panabas began as a composite of a sickle and an axe, specifically designed for clearing foliage, branches, thickets, and other unwanted flora.
• Grass Cutting: Contemporary farmers, particularly around the Liguasan Marsh in Mindanao, use it as a grass cutter, often calling it a pantabas or simply tabas.
• Agricultural Harvesting: It is used to chop banana trees, bamboo, and other softer native trees. 
• Food Preparation: Beyond the field, it has served as a heavy utility tool for cleaving meat and fish.

Battle Tool.  I wasn’t surprised that this sword was repurposed to be used in warfare.  “In spite of its humble origins, the panabas was also greatly feared as a fighting weapon.  It was employed on the battlefield in a number of ways.  Firstly, it was sometimes used in  combat as a large, heavy sword.  Although a relatively slow weapon, its impact upon opponents was devastating…Because of the chainsaw-like decimation that a group of fighters with panabases could inflict, some Moro leaders are said to have deployed a line of them in front of the regular troops, to lead attacks.”⁶

I was surprised to read that it was also specifically used in battlefield clean-up.  “The panabas was used to execute wounded enemies on the battle site, in a display of power.”^{7 8 9}

Justice Tool. The panabas gained infamy as an executioner’s sword. Due to its chopping capability, the weapon was frequently used for executions of prisoners.  This gave it a “gruesome” reputation among enemies.^{10 11 12 13 14}

It was also used for capital punishment and the severing of limbs for certain crimes. Some individual panabases were recorded to have taken over a thousand lives.  “Islamic law mandates the loss of a hand for thieves, as well as capital punishment for those who commit severe infractions of its codes and traditions…In the earlier periods of Muslim Filipino history both the kris and kampilan were used to execute condemned men.  However, as time progressed, the Moros began to ornament both types of swords to greater degree and in so doing, endowed them with ceremonial status.”¹⁵  The Moros stopped using those swords for executions and replaced them with the panabas.¹⁶

Status Symbol. The panabas was also used to symbolize prestige.  While still a “weapon,” it was used as part of the regalia for Sultans and Datus to symbolize their power and prestige. “Selected warriors, bearing these huge swords, stood at the side of the sultan as he held court” as his bodyguards.¹⁷ “Some panabases were specifically made for leaders, or famous warriors.”¹⁸ 

Design and Characteristics

“The panabas is a weapon with a wide metal chopping-head which appears to be a cross between the blade of a sword and the head of an ax.”¹⁹ The panabas is a heavy, single-edged chopping weapon that typically ranges from two to four feet in total length. Its most striking feature is its profile…the most common form is often compared to a hockey stick, featuring a long, slightly curved handle and an extended, upturned blade. It is known as a devastating weapon that can be wielded with one or two hands, acting similar to a heavy machete or axe.^{20 21}

Because of its primary role as a tool, “utility” versions of the panabas often featured simplified designs, such as plain cylindrical wooden hafts and simple brass or steel ferrules, lacking the intricate decorations found on those intended for war or ceremony.   “In most cases, however, the Muslim Filipinos did not devote a great deal of time to decorating the panabas, since it was a low-status weapon.”²²

The Handle. Its handle is one of the longest of Philippine swords, with a range in size from more than half a meter to over one meter, and functions as a counterweight.”^{23 24}  That long handle, grasped with one or both hands, is designed so that the panabas can be wielded like a cleaver, to deliver a cut.  Smaller versions could be used one-handed.

The handles are crafted from hardwoods, such as reddish native varieties. To prevent the hardwood from splitting under the force of a chop, the upper portion of the handle is reinforced. Some examples often utilize brass or copper alloy sleeves (ferrules) and are often wrapped in braided rattan or metal bands to ensure a secure grip. “Very often the handles is octagonally flared and beveled, featuring minimal geometric designs incised into the end.”^{25 26}

The Blade. “Seen from the side, [the panabas] laminated steel blade is single-edged…narrowest near the hilt, getting broadly thicker near the tip where the edge side of the weapon curves forward.”^{27 28}  “Regardless of tip shape and size, Panabas blades tend to have a similar directional bends.  The blade starts out either narrow or uniformly wide in a straight direction, and then gradually curves upward.  This form factor of the blade minimizes surface contact on the initial cut then cleaves through in an almost slicing motion akin to backward curbed blades.”²⁹

“Some of these panabases have blades that are less than a foot in length. They are small enough to have been easily manipulated with just one hand. The larger examples weigh three or more pounds and have blades that span two feet.  Two hands were certainly needed when it came to wielding these huge choppers.”³⁰   “On occasion, crosshatch (“palias”) designs were engraved into the back of the blade, just above the sword handle. These are further examples of decorative designs that held talismanic meanings for Moros of the era.”³¹ 

Scabbard.   “As with all the Moro swords, the panabas was covered with a flat scabbard made of one of the usual native hardwoods.  Scabbards follow the form of the blade and are not heavily decorated.  When embellishment is present, it normally takes the form of small triangles carved along the outer perimeter.”³²   “The blade enters the scabbard from the bottom, just as with the kampilan.  There is a gap along the bottom, so that the wide variances in the width of the blade can be accommodated as it is slid into place.   The scabbard is held together with a few wooden pegs.”³³

“In more elaborate or extremely curved designs, artisans would craft scabbards that expose the spine of the blade.  It is a simpler design that prioritizes the coverage of the Panabas cutting edge.  Sheathing and unsheathing is made faster and easier as users simply push the edge towards the scabbard…Curved designs would require such scabbard designs.”^{34 35} 

Spiritual Significance

The panabas is often treated with deep reverence and occasionally fear. Some heirloom pieces, known as pusaka, are believed to possess spirits or jen. The most famous example is the Malkalmaut (The Angel of Death).   Legends claim the Malkalmaut can travel to its owner on its own, fly through the air, or even swim across rivers. It was reportedly last used in World War II against Japanese soldiers, where it was said to have dispatched twelve men with a single blow. Strict rituals are observed for these heirloom weapons, including regular bathing in special oils and symbolic “slaughter” of animals to satisfy the blade’s spirit.³⁶

Conclusion

Though often viewed as a low-status weapon compared to the ornate kris, the panabas carved its own unique niche:

• A symbol of prestige for Sultans and Datus. 
• As regalia for bodyguards of the Sultans and Datus.
• As a grass cutter”by farmers in Mindanao.

Its dual nature as a heavy utility tool for cleaving meat and a devastating weapon that led charges into battle demonstrates a cultural versatility similar to other Philippine swords. The  panabas remains uniquely Moro in identity.

Videos

• Antique Moro blade ‘panabas’ dry bamboo cut test, Raymund Lucero Jr (Slipperslasher), YouTube, September 8, 2023. 
• Obscure Filpino Weapon that Terrified Enemies – the Panabas, Scholagladiatoria, YouTube, August 11, 2023. 
• Panabas Sword, Pilipinas kong mahal, YouTube, Nov 12, 2021. Video in Tagalog.
• Philippine Panabas Sharpness Test, JunDeunaBlades, YouTube, Jan 24, 2021.

---

1. Panabas, Wikipedia, viewed on May 12, 2026. ↩︎
2. Moro Swords, Cato,Robert, Graham Brash Singapore, 1996, p. 93. ↩︎
3. A Warrior’s Armament and Ornament.  The Edwin R. Bautista Collection of Philippine Bladed Weapons, “Dramatic Blade by Jose Ma. Lorenzo P. Tan, Bautista, Edwin R., Dizon Ph.D., Eusebio Z., Flores Ph.D., Patrick D., Muskrat Museo Ng Kaalamang Katutubo, 2020, p. 184. ↩︎
4. Moro Swords, Cato,Robert, Graham Brash Singapore, 1996, p. 93. ↩︎
5. A Warrior’s Armament and Ornament.  The Edwin R. Bautista Collection of Philippine Bladed Weapons, “Dramatic Blade by Jose Ma. Lorenzo P. Tan, Bautista, Edwin R., Dizon Ph.D., Eusebio Z., Flores Ph.D., Patrick D., Muskrat Museo Ng Kaalamang Katutubo, 2020, p. 184. ↩︎
6. Moro Swords, Cato,Robert, Graham Brash Singapore, 1996, p. 95-96. ↩︎
7. A Warrior’s Armament and Ornament.  The Edwin R. Bautista Collection of Philippine Bladed Weapons, “Dramatic Blade by Jose Ma. Lorenzo P. Tan, Bautista, Edwin R., Dizon Ph.D., Eusebio Z., Flores Ph.D., Patrick D., Muskrat Museo Ng Kaalamang Katutubo, 2020, p. 184. ↩︎
8. Sandata: The Edged Weapons of the Philippines History of Steel in East Asia, Greaves, Ian A., Albovias Jr., Jose, and  Malibago, Federico, Macaur Museum of Art.  ↩︎
9. Moro Swords, Cato,Robert, Graham Brash Singapore, 1996, p. 95. ↩︎
10. Obscure Filpino Weapon that Terrified Enemies – the Panabas, Scholagladiatoria, YouTube, August 11, 2023. ↩︎
11. Moro Swords, Cato,Robert, Graham Brash Singapore, 1996, p. 93. ↩︎
12. Filipino Martial Culture, Wiley, Mark V., Tuttle Publishing, 1996, p. 124. ↩︎
13. A Glossary of the Construction, Decoration and Use of Arms and Armor: In all Countries and in All Times (Dover Military History, Weapons, Armor), Stone, George Cameron, Dover Publications, Inc. e-book, 1999. ↩︎
14. Weapons of the Philippines, Lawrence,Marc J., e-book, February 2019, p. 75. ↩︎
15. Moro Swords, Cato,Robert, Graham Brash Singapore, 1996, p. 93-94. ↩︎
16. Moro Swords, Cato,Robert, Graham Brash Singapore, 1996, p. 94. ↩︎
17. Moro Swords, Cato,Robert, Graham Brash Singapore, 1996, p. 96. ↩︎
18. Moro Swords, Cato,Robert, Graham Brash Singapore, 1996, p. 91-92. ↩︎
19. Filipino Martial Culture, Wiley, Mark V., Tuttle Publishing, 1996, p. 124. ↩︎
20. Moro Swords, Cato,Robert, Graham Brash Singapore, 1996, p. 90. ↩︎
21. Obscure Filpino Weapon that Terrified Enemies – the Panabas, Scholagladiatoria, YouTube, August 11, 2023. ↩︎
22. Moro Swords, Cato,Robert, Graham Brash Singapore, 1996, p. 92. ↩︎
23. A Warrior’s Armament and Ornament.  The Edwin R. Bautista Collection of Philippine Bladed Weapons, “Dramatic Blade by Jose Ma. Lorenzo P. Tan, Bautista, Edwin R., Dizon Ph.D., Eusebio Z., Flores Ph.D., Patrick D., Muskrat Museo Ng Kaalamang Katutubo, 2020, p. 184. ↩︎
24. The Collection of Primitive Weapons and Armor of the Philippine Islands in the United States National Museum, Krieger, Herbert W., Sothis Press, 2023, p. 68.   Named as “Tabas”. ↩︎
25. Moro Swords, Cato,Robert, Graham Brash Singapore, 1996, p. 92. ↩︎
26. Obscure Filpino Weapon that Terrified Enemies – the Panabas, Scholagladiatoria, YouTube, August 11, 2023. ↩︎
27. A Warrior’s Armament and Ornament.  The Edwin R. Bautista Collection of Philippine Bladed Weapons, “Dramatic Blade by Jose Ma. Lorenzo P. Tan, Bautista, Edwin R., Dizon Ph.D., Eusebio Z., Flores Ph.D., Patrick D., Muskrat Museo Ng Kaalamang Katutubo, 2020, p. 184. ↩︎
28. Sandata: The Edged Weapons of the Philippines History of Steel in East Asia, Greaves, Ian A., Albovias Jr., Jose, and  Malibago, Federico, Macaur Museum of Art.  ↩︎
29. Illustrative Field Guide to Filipino Blades, Stargazer,Blue, ebook, 2025. ↩︎
30. Moro Swords, Cato,Robert, Graham Brash Singapore, 1996, p. 91. ↩︎
31. Moro Swords, Cato,Robert, Graham Brash Singapore, 1996, p. 93. ↩︎
32. Moro Swords, Cato,Robert, Graham Brash Singapore, 1996, p. 93. ↩︎
33. Moro Swords, Cato,Robert, Graham Brash Singapore, 1996, p. 93. ↩︎
34. Illustrative Field Guide to Filipino Blades, Stargazer,Blue, ebook, 2025. ↩︎
35. Moro Swords, Cato,Robert, Graham Brash Singapore, 1996, p. 93. ↩︎
36. Moro Swords, Cato,Robert, Graham Brash Singapore, 1996, p. 95. ↩︎