Panabas

The panabas is a large, forward-curved chopping sword, used by Muslim tribes of the southern Philippines. It ranges from 2-4 ft in total length, including the long hardwood (usually narra) handle (wrapped in rattan or metal) and the laminated steel blade, which may be blunt or pointed depending on preference.

The panabas is a multipurpose tool, used for chopping meat and fish, for clearing vegetation. It was also well-known for its use as a close combat weapon and executioner's blade, serving as a symbol of power through controlled violence for the datus of Mindanao.

The word panabas (from pang-tabas "chopping tool") is also used in other parts of the Philippines to describe the agricultural sickle, treated on this wiki as the karit.