...
The difference between a kubotan and a Bic pen might be just training.
Well, the difference between how a Yawara stick might be used, compared to spike bo shuriken (when retained in the hand versus being thrown) or pointed chopsticks, or a Bic pen ... or a pencil (popularized in the John Wick universe) ... can certainly be apparent.
The Yawara stick (Kubotan, etc) can offer more potential for 'come along' & 'pain compliance restraint techniques, while the bo-shuriken or pointed chopsticks (whether plastic or metal) may be somewhat more limited in their application, especially when it comes to possible injuries resulting.
The Kubotan, named after inventor Takayuki Kubota, came along in the late 60's, but became pretty popular with some LE as the 70's rolled in. I picked up a couple of them back then, carrying them as keychains. (Which introduces its own type of issues.) I still have an aluminum one I picked up from somewhere some years later.
A pair of chopsticks, especially in the hands of someone practiced in some Chinese styles (like one of the Mantis styles), can be pretty surprisingly versatile, unexpected and effective. I was first exposed to it in the 70's, when I was branching out from karate and muay thai into some Chinese arts, and it gave some insight into why sometimes young men could be seen with a pair of chopsticks in their pockets on the streets of San Francisco's Chinatown. Well, then there were some of the bamboo 'flutes' also seen sticking out of back pockets, especially ones with the 'mouthpiece' carefully cut so it was pointed and sharpened.
Many years later I adapted my Yawara training into carrying pens like one of the Parker Cap & Barrel styles (still do, at times), since they were rather ubiquitous and could be carried obstructively, although carrying a Cross Pen & Pencil set could easily take the place of 'chopsticks', in a pinch.
Of course, nowadays the 'tactical pen' craze has given us a huge variety of variations. Some can be fairly easily identified as 'weapons', and Hollywood has helped make the Public aware of how they can be employed as weapons, too. Then, there's John Wick's 'pencil' legend, but before that there was the way the 'promo' pen was used in
Grosse Pointe Blank by Cusack's professional assassin character, Martin Blank. (The other assassin Cusack's character used the pen on in that HS hallway scene was played by Benny "The Jet" Urquidez, who is a martial artist recognized by us older martial artists.
)