I lost the pivot pin for my Code 4

David Mary

David Mary

pass the mustard - after you cut it
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Knifemaker / Craftsman / Service Provider
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What are the chances I am going to be able to get a new (or used) one, without having to buy a whole knife? In the age of GSM... should I even call them?
 
David Mary said:
What are the chances I am going to be able to get a new (or used) one, without having to buy a whole knife? In the age of GSM... should I even call them?
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they don't seem to have knives to replace under warranty, i know cause i had been on a watiing last forever and finally gave up trying. I'd be very surprised if they have any parts.....

couldn't hurt to call and sit on hold forever though...and have who finally answers tell ya they don't know anything....😁

maybe a magnet sweep recover operation?
 
Already done. There are gaps between the foundation and the dirt in the old garage where it happened, and I am pretty sure it rolled into one of those. It belongs to the ants now.
 
David Mary said:
Already done. There are gaps between the foundation and the dirt in the old garage where it happened, and I am pretty sure it rolled into one of those. It belongs to the ants now.
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Is it not something you could find at a hardware store?

Did a websearch, looks like you can get a whole screw kit on etsy for $12.
 
Pivot pin. Not screw.
 
Cold Steel's website said:
As a rule, Cold Steel does not send out any parts that are integral to the opening / closing action, pivot, or locking mechanism of any of our folding knives. Such parts include, but are not limited to, Pivot Pins, Washers, Lock-Bars, Lock Springs, Leaf Springs, Lock-Bar Pivot Screws, etc. We recommend that such services be done at our facility here in Irving Texas. If you need repair or parts beyond a pocket clip, please see our Warranty Information page.
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I'm sorry to hear that. I don't know, but I'm willing to try. How thick are the scales on the rajah 3? If they are thicker than the Code 4's then it won't work. Code 4 scales are super thin.
 
You’re right. I’m thinking about diameter and didn’t even think about the length. The scales are thick.
 
"We recommend that such services be done at our facility here in Irving Texas"

You could try to go through their warranty process ? IDK . Call their bluff .

Or see if they have a repair service you can pay for ?

I'm curious to see if they really do any repairs at all .
 
Literally a minute shy of an hour and a half on the phone/hold with GSM Outdoors, and guess the result. No, you don't have to guess. I'll tell you. I got nothing from GSM. The CSR Jeremiah said they don't send out parts, but he promised to reach out to the "guy in the warehouse" (who did not answer his call today, hence the proposed follow up) and ask for the specs of the pivot pin and email me back. He said at the very least he'd like to get me that info so I can find it through a third party if necessary. But I think we all know that is not going to happen. The Code 4 is a specific model, and the pivot for it is a very specific item that has a specific shape and size that is not available on the aftermarket. I already looked.
 
That's a bummer.

Apparently Cold Steel products are now buy and discard if anything goes wrong.

I would send it in under warranty if possible and claim the pivot fell out.

Many CS knives I recieve have loose screws right out of the box.
 
The first option I would consider would be to send it in. Maybe you get lucky and they replace it.

My second option would be to check around the internet for anyone selling a Code 4 cheap, like maybe one with a buggered blade. Although that's a longshot.

My third option, and last resort, would be to attempt an improvised replacement-

Since the Code 4 is made in Taiwan it's a safe bet that all the hardware, including the diameter of the pivot barrel, are metric (metric parts, metric programing for the manufacturing machines). I know from careful measuring that the hardware, including pivot barrel diameter on the Ti-Lite series are all metric, also made in Taiwan.

One possible option for a replacement might be a metric binding barrel, also called a "sex bolt" or a "Chicago screw". I was planning on using a 6mm diameter stainless steel one in my first Ti-Lite 6 switchblade conversion because I needed a pivot barrel longer than stock. It would have worked (I bought the barrel from McMaster-Carr), but in the end I went with a different design and didn't need it.

The one issue I was going to have to deal with if I had used it was that one liner has a flat spot in the pivot hole, with a corresponding flat spot running the length of the stock pivot. This keeps the pivot from turning. I was going to file that flat spot out of the liner and make the hole completely round for the longer round barrel. I wasn't concerned about it spinning.

I have to assume that someone else on this forum has a Code 4, and a metric measuring device, and could provide accurate measurements (length of stem, diameter of both head and stem).

It truly saddens me that the company that makes my all-time favorite knife has such crappy customer service. Who knows, maybe you just got them on a bad day. Or maybe I'm just overly optimistic.

I hope you get it worked out David. I'd keep looking/digging for the lost pivot.
 
David Mary said:
I'm sorry to hear that. I don't know, but I'm willing to try. How thick are the scales on the rajah 3? If they are thicker than the Code 4's then it won't work. Code 4 scales are super thin.
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You could perhaps cut down/file the one for the Rajah to proper length.
 
Thanks for the warning to never take my Code 4 apart, and that their CS sucks. I have 2 fixed blade and 2 folding knives from CS, and knock on wood I have not needed customer service. But I had no idea they were this bad.

On the bright side, I just checked and bladehq has replacement knives for $112.95 in CPM S35VN, if you can't find replacement parts :mad:
 
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