The use and possession of a Kubotan vary from state to state and country to country. The use of a Kubotan is particularly interesting because so many items can be improvised - a ball point pen, flashlight or a rolled up magazine. These are items of opportunity - using what is on hand to make a Kubotan. Other items are more preplanned and therefore are more readily available when a defensive need arises like a wood dowel or metal or plastic rod.

The time to find a Kubotan is NOT when you need it - it may not be available, for example, walking to your car in a parking garage - no pens laying around and no magazines on a nearby table. You need to carry your Kubotan with you but in today's litigious society it needs to have another more legal use but be available to use as a Kubotan when needed. It needs to be an improvised defensive weapon. Hence the birth of the Keychain Kubotan. The everyday use of the Kubotan is to act as a keychain but the real purpose is only revealed when the trained user is required to defend himself.

The Keychain Kubotan is a great weapon for men, woman and children alike. It is stylish and to the untrained eye appears to be an innocent key fob. It is attached to a keyring for concealment and the convenience of always being on hand.

We have two types of Kubotans:  Hidden Compartment Kubotans and Solid Wood Kubotans.

HIDDEN COMPARTMENT KUBOTANS

The photo below shows our Hidden Compartment Kubotans.

The length, excluding the keyring, is 5 1/2" long and they are 5/8" in diameter. They also have a hidden compartment for storing things like paper money or reminder notes. Some customers keep a toothpick in the compartment which can be used to help remove paper items.

The brass tube hidden inside the wood also strengthens the Kubotan making it a much stronger and more lethal weapon. The end of the Kubotan is rounded metal to provide a hard surface for pressure point or stabbing attacks. The Keychain Kubotan is available in heavy 24kt gold plate and made in the exotic woods shown in the above photo.

These are the woods that our Hidden Compartment Kubotans are made from:

A. Dark Cocobolo (Dalbergia retusa) is a Central American hardwood. It is dense and very heavy and its color ranges from a bright orange-yellow to purplish red and deepens upon exposure. This Kubotan is the dark grained variety.

B. Spalted Tamarind (tamarindus indica) is a creamy white wood with spectacular background colors of rose, yellow and black spalting, which gives the appearance of an unpredictable landscape. Spalted Tamarind comes from Southeast Asia, Burma and Laos.

C. Gabon Ebony (Diospyros dendo) is a wood which has a uniform jet black heartwood. The wood is very fine textured and has a metallic luster. Gabon Ebony is strong and hard with good resistance to bending and compression. It turns well and can be finished to a high polish. Typical uses for Gabon Ebony include inlaid work, musical instruments and piano keys. Gabon Ebony comes from Africa, specifically Nigeria, Ghana, Cameroon and Zaire.

D. Verawood (Bulnesia arborea) is a member of the Zygophyllaceae family and is related to Lignum-Vitae. In fact another popular name for Verawood is Maracaibo lignumvitae. This wood is found in the coastal region of Colombia and Venezuela, common on the dry foothills between Porto Cabello and Lake Maracaibo. The surface of fresh wood often turns dark green upon exposure to sunlight.

E. Bocote (Cordia elaeagnoides) is a Central American tropical hardwood which has dramatic patterning that varies from mustard yellow to golden brown to dark black. The texture is uniform and is considered fine to medium. The grain is straight and the wood is hard and stable.

F. Black & White Ebony (diospyros embryopteris) is a rare and unusual specie of the Ebony family. It has heartwood which is creamy white with contrasting veins of distinct black running through it. The grain of the wood is generally straight and the texture is fine to medium. It finishes to an incredibly smooth, high luster. Black and White Ebony is principally available from Southeast Asia, Burma and Laos.

G. Light Cocobolo (Dalbergia retusa) is a Central American hardwood. It is dense and very heavy and its color ranges from a bright orange-yellow to purplish red and deepens upon exposure. This Kubotan is the light grained variety.

The Kubotan Keychains have a silky smooth Lacquer finish and are hand buffed to a durable high gloss finish using a wax blend polish. The only exception is the Verawood Kubotan. The naturally waxy surface interferes with the Lacquer, so it goes straight to the wax polishing stage using it's own natural wax.

SOLID WOOD KUBOTANS

These are the Solid Wood Kubotans with a keyring on one end and a round metal tip at the other end. Not only does the round metal tip protect the end of the Kubotan, most martial artists who use Kubotans know that a round tip concentrates the striking force making a strike to a pressure point much more effective!

This Keychain Kubotan is available in heavy 24kt gold plate and made in the exotic woods shown. The length, not including the keyring, is 5 1/2" long and is 3/4" in diameter.

Below is a photo showing the different types of Solid Wood Kubotans we have to offer.

Wood Descriptions

A. Dark Cocobolo (Dalbergia retusa) is a Central American hardwood. It is dense and very heavy and its color ranges from a bright orange-yellow to purplish red and deepens upon exposure. This Kubotan is the dark grained variety.

B. Spalted Tamarind (tamarindus indica) is a creamy white wood with spectacular background colors of rose, yellow and black spalting, which gives the appearance of an unpredictable landscape. Spalted Tamarind comes from Southeast Asia, Burma and Laos.

C. Indian Ebony (diospyros ebenum), has heartwood which is uniform jet black, sometimes with a wavy grain. It is a rare wood and is very dense and heavy and as its name suggests comes from India. When held up to the light, the surface is pitch black but if you look "through" the surface, you can see the dark brown wavy grain which is typical for this wood.

D. Verawood (Bulnesia arborea) is a member of the Zygophyllaceae family and is related to Lignum-Vitae. In fact another popular name for Verawood is Maracaibo lignumvitae. This wood is found in the coastal region of Colombia and Venezuela, common on the dry foothills between Porto Cabello and Lake Maracaibo. The surface of fresh wood often turns dark green upon exposure to sunlight.

Being extemely fine textured and oily to the touch, this species is similar in appearance to Lignumvitae but often exhibits a brighter green color and more attractive figure.

E. Bocote (Cordia elaeagnoides) is a Central American tropical hardwood which has dramatic patterning that varies from mustard yellow to golden brown to dark black. The texture is uniform and is considered fine to medium. The grain is straight and the wood is hard and stable.

F. Bee's Wing Narra (Pterocarpus indicus) is golden-yellow wood which contains a spectacular mottled figure more commonly known as Bee's Wing. It is a hard and heavy wood with a straight grain but can be slightly wavy with some interlocking. It takes an excellent finish and polishes to a high sheen. Bee's Wing Narra principally comes from Southeast Asia.

G. Light Cocobolo (Dalbergia retusa) is a Central American hardwood. It is dense and very heavy and its color ranges from a bright orange-yellow to purplish red and deepens upon exposure. This Kubotan is the light grained variety.

The Solid Wood Kubotans are finished the same way the Hidden Compartment Kubotans are. They are hand buffed to a durable high gloss finish using Lacquer and a wax blend polish. The only exception is the Verawood Kubotan. The naturally waxy surface interferes with Lacquer, so it goes straight to the wax polishing stage.

To order our Kubotans online, please use the link at the top of this page labeled "Online Store". It will take you to our online store where our Kubotans are available.