Abba Pen Blank

.85 x .85 x 6

Beautiful Figure, Fine Texture & Exceptional Turning Performance

Ababa is a rare and attractive African hardwood prized for its warm golden-brown to reddish-brown heartwood, fine texture, and excellent machining characteristics. Native to the tropical forests of West Africa, Ababa offers outstanding stability, natural luster, and subtle grain patterns that make it an exceptional choice for woodturners, pen makers, knife makers, and fine woodworking artisans.

Its straight to slightly interlocked grain allows for clean cuts and crisp detail, while its fine, even texture produces a silky-smooth finish. Whether left natural or enhanced with oil, wax, or CA finish, Ababa develops a rich appearance that highlights its unique character and timeless beauty.

Perfect for custom pens, knife handles, bottle stoppers, duck calls, game calls, decorative turnings, carvings, and heirloom-quality woodworking projects, Ababa delivers premium performance and elegant results.

Botanical Information

Scientific Name: Anthonotha fragrans

Family: Fabaceae

Origin: West Africa (Ghana, Ivory Coast, Liberia, Nigeria, Cameroon, and neighboring countries)

Common & Trade Names

Ababa

African Ababa

Anthonotha fragrans

Key Characteristics

Golden-brown to reddish-brown heartwood

Pale yellow to cream sapwood

Straight to slightly interlocked grain

Fine, uniform texture

Moderate natural luster

Good dimensional stability

Durable hardwood with excellent finishing qualities

Workability

Ababa machines, turns, drills, and sands exceptionally well with sharp tools. It holds fine details, develops a smooth polished surface, and readily accepts oils, waxes, lacquer, and CA finishes, making it ideal for precision turning and decorative woodworking.

Health & Safety Information

Wood dust from Ababa may cause skin, eye, and respiratory irritation in sensitive individuals. As with all hardwoods, proper dust collection, eye protection, and a NIOSH-approved respirator are recommended when cutting, sanding, or turning this wood.

CITES Status

Ababa (Anthonotha fragrans) is not currently listed under the CITES Appendices, although responsible sourcing is always encouraged.

Ideal Uses

Pen blanks

Fountain pen blanks

Rollerball pen blanks

Knife handle scales

Bottle stopper blanks

Duck calls

Game calls

Decorative turnings

Carvings

Inlays

Fine woodworking

Custom gifts

Ababa wood, Ababa pen blanks, Ababa wood blanks, Anthonotha fragrans, African hardwood, African exotic wood, exotic hardwood, premium hardwood blanks, pen making wood, woodturning blanks, turning wood, knife handle wood, knife scales, bottle stopper blanks, duck call blanks, game call blanks, cue making wood, artisan woodworking, fine woodworking, hardwood turning stock, exotic wood for pens, custom woodworking, woodworking supplies, natural hardwood blanks,