I lost the pivot pin for my Code 4

This is why I won't buy any more Cold Steel products. A warranty is only as good as the company that stands behind it. This goes for most anything in life including automobiles
 
Couldn't take the moaning about customer service anymore. Yes, Cold Steel CS sucks anymore. But there were only a few actual suggestions. Anyway, it drove me to take my Code 4 pivot screw out and do some measurements. (edited to add: plus, I could NOT stand being so selfish myself, avoiding taking my Code 4 pivot screw out just because it might expose me to the same risk, when I actually have blue loc-tite to keep it from happening to me.)

M3.5x0.6 (the best I could line up my micrometer on the thread peaks). Measures just under 6mm long, just the threads. So, M3.5x0.6, 6mm is the closest.

This should work. https://www.mcmaster.com/90362A158

Plus, you'll have pivot screws for 99 of your closest friends. Unfortunately, it is a pan-head, so it is going to stick out some. But the head diameter of it is 7mm. The hole for the screw head to sit in on my Code 4 is 7.39mm, the best I can measure with my mic, again.

If you're willing to wait until they come back in stock, you could get the button head here as well:

https://www.mcmaster.com/screws/rou...rive-style~torx/thread-size~m3-5/length~6-mm/
(hopefully that comes up with the right search parameters)

However, the head diameter on the button head is only 5.7mm. The pivot screw head on mine is 6.9mm. A 5.7mm screw head is going to come dangerously close to not grabbing the scale, just sitting on top of the pivot barrel. So if it were me, I'd order from that first link above. Yes, you have a ton of screws then. But for $6 and some change, and shipping, you should have your problem solved.

If you want to make certain on the thread pitch, you might be able to pull the pivot barrel out, take it to the local Autozone or Advance Auto, and try screwing it down on their test screws there (assuming they have M3.5 screws).

That's about all I can offer. Hope this helps. Me personally, even though it is a little more work, I'd prefer to end up with a ton of extra screws than have to trash a good knife.

And get some blue loc-tite while you're at it. ;)
 
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dogboye said:
Couldn't take the moaning about customer service anymore. Yes, Cold Steel CS sucks anymore. But there were only a few actual suggestions. Anyway, it drove me to take my Code 4 pivot screw out and do some measurements. (edited to add: plus, I could stand being so selfish myself, avoiding taking my Code 4 pivot screw out just because it might expose me to the same risk, when I actually have blue loc-tite to keep it from happening to me.)

M3.5x0.6 (the best I could line up my micrometer on the thread peaks). Measures just under 6mm long, just the threads. So, M3.5x0.6, 6mm is the closest.

This should work. https://www.mcmaster.com/90362A158

Plus, you'll have pivot screws for 99 of your closest friends. Unfortunately, it is a pan-head, so it is going to stick out some. But the head diameter of it is 7mm. The hole for the screw head to sit in on my Code 4 is 7.39mm, the best I can measure with my mic, again.

If you're willing to wait until they come back in stock, you could get the button head here as well:

https://www.mcmaster.com/screws/rou...rive-style~torx/thread-size~m3-5/length~6-mm/
(hopefully that comes up with the right search parameters)

However, the head diameter on the button head is only 5.7mm. The pivot screw head on mine is 6.9mm. A 5.7mm screw head is going to come dangerously close to not grabbing the scale, just sitting on top of the pivot barrel. So if it were me, I'd order from that first link above. Yes, you have a ton of screws then. But for $6 and some change, and shipping, you should have your problem solved.

If you want to make certain on the thread pitch, you might be able to pull the pivot barrel out, take it to the local Autozone or Advance Auto, and try screwing it down on their test screws there (assuming they have M3.5 screws).

That's about all I can offer. Hope this helps. Me personally, even though it is a little more work, I'd prefer to end up with a ton of extra screws than have to trash a good knife.

And get some blue loc-tite while you're at it. ;)
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He lost the pivot barrel, not the screw.

See post #6 :) .
 
Have you tried dangling a rare earth magnet in the cracks, to see if you can recover the in that way? You also might be able to make a replacement using an nail or some other round rod and a file...
 
The OP's use of the term "pivot pin" confused several people including me. Is there even such a thing as pivot pin? Do you mean the blade stop pin (which is not threaded)?
 
Probably the same thing as just about everyone else haha
 
killgar said:
He lost the pivot barrel, not the screw.

See post #6 :) .
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Well don't I feel like a dumb***! I saw post #5, and the response, but misread even that. I thought MolokaiRider had given him a smaller screw, like a scale screw or something. Well.... actually, according to my measurements, the screw dimensions MolokaiRider gave would not work with my Code 4. The pivot screw on mine is definitely a M3.5. That is the most exact measurement I got from my mic.

So... if the pin itself is lost, IF IT WERE ME, I'd probably look at a complete change-out.

Would this work?

I really don't want to take my Code 4 completely apart to get all the measurements. I'm assuming David Mary could measure the hole diameter of the blade, and the scales.
But if I must, let me know. I'll try.
 
If I had a code 4, I would send you the pin and send mine in. Shipping from Canada to TX for a stupid pin replacement is insane.

Maybe try to convince them to pay your shipping fee, both ways. $40 for a pivot pin replacement? Maybejust send the tiny item in an envelope for a couple bucks, like most other manufacturers.

Certainly doesn't make me want to give them any of my money, especially since they don't send out left handed clips anymore either and don't tell people about that new loss of function. Too many other good companies out there that have better CS, even the Chinese companies are doing better and cold steel doesn't make much in the US anymore anyway.
 
bikerector said:
.....especially since they don't send out left handed clips anymore either ...
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Not to digress, but they actually do send out left-handed clips. Or at least every Cold Steel knife I've bought this year came with a second left-hand clip (assuming they were asymmetric). All were new, from a dealer.
 
dogboye said:
Not to digress, but they actually do send out left-handed clips. Or at least every Cold Steel knife I've bought this year came with a second left-hand clip (assuming they were asymmetric). All were new, from a dealer.
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Must have changed something since last year. I bought one from a dealer, and I know numerous other people who had as well, no left hand clip included. Most of them that I remember, and in my case as well, were recon 1's. I find that ridiculous if you're going to design an asymmetric clip and advertise that it's left and right side pocket clip.

For such a design feature as requiring 2 clips, it should not be so difficult to get a clip if they forget to include one, but more annoyingly is their choice to not include them.

Glad you got yours, some didn't.

EDIT: Did some more reading, looks like some talwars, range boss, and mini recons didn't get any either. Don't know why, don't really care, they should correct that. Any company interested in QA and continuous improvement would get this sorted out. Maybe it's just coincidence that GSM took over and pocket clips started being left out, but that also means it's on them to get it back in there. Based on your experiences, sounds like they're getting better about jt. It wasn't an uncommon incident last year.
 
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bikerector said:
Must have changed something since last year. I bought one from a dealer, and I know numerous other people who had as well, no left hand clip included. Most of them that I remember, and in my case as well, were recon 1's. I find that ridiculous if you're going to design an assymetric clip and advertize that it's left and right side pocket clip.

For such a design feature as requiring 2 clips, it should not be so difficult to ger a clio if they forget to include one, but more annoyingly is their choice to not include them.

Glad you got yours, some didn't.

EDIT: Did some more reading, looks like some talwars, range boss, and mini recons didn't get any either. Don't know why, don't really care, they should correct that. Any company interested in QA and continuous improvement would get this sorted out. Maybe it's just coincidence that GSM took over and pocket clips started being left out, but that also means it's on them to get it back in there. Based on your experiences, sounds like they're getting better about jt. It wasn't an uncommon incident last year.
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It does sound like they are including them again, after leaving them out last year, maybe due to the changeover things got missed and then fixed? My Code 4 from this year came with the extra left clip.

The knife itself is fine, and I originally got it because it had a beefy tanto blade with very thin light scales for carrying; but it's just big enough to make it difficult to open and close one-handed in a hurry, as I need to get the perfect grip on it to operate it. It's extremely sharp, in S35VN steel, and seems like a bargain for a little over $100.

BUT IT'S DISAPPOINTING that they will not sell replacement parts to someone who was maintaining the knife on their own, despite that act voiding the warranty as It says that right on the box. He's not asking for free parts, just that they sell the him parts. This means they should also add on the box that the knife is not user serviceable and that they will not support the customer.

Personally, if this happened to me I would just send it in stating that the parts fell off the knife and one was lost.
 
DocJekl said:
It does sound like they are including them again, after leaving them out last year, maybe due to the changeover things got missed and then fixed? My Code 4 from this year came with the extra left clip.

The knife itself is fine, and I originally got it because it had a beefy tanto blade with very thin light scales for carrying; but it's just big enough to make it difficult to open and close one-handed in a hurry, as I need to get the perfect grip on it to operate it. It's extremely sharp, in S35VN steel, and seems like a bargain for a little over $100.

BUT IT'S DISAPPOINTING that they will not sell replacement parts to someone who was maintaining the knife on their own, despite that act voiding the warranty as It says that right on the box. He's not asking for free parts, just that they sell the him parts. This means they should also add on the box that the knife is not user serviceable and that they will not support the customer.

Personally, if this happened to me I would just send it in stating that the parts fell off the knife and one was lost.
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For sure, the replacement parts is a really annoying approach and it really limits what our international brothers and sisters repair/replace. Similar to when benchmade had their stint of bad QC, sending the knife back in for repair didn't really help them out so much. Offering spare parts is a nice way to cover the GC mistakes they may have, or the user's mistakes, without ruining a knife by standard knife maintenance practices.

I will say, cold steel, for me, has been very sharp out of the box consistently. Spyderco is the only other maker I can think of that has a good consistency with knives sharp out of the box.

I don't consider Cold Steel a "bad" company, they just need to get themselves figured out again it seems. The transition was intended to be smooth with Lynn staying on but it doesn't seem like that happened perfectly. If they make it through a few more years, hopefully they get their CS figured out and bring some interesting, and sometimes over the top, designs to fruition again. Or a Talwar I can afford, LOL.
 
bikerector said:
Must have changed something since last year. I bought one from a dealer, and I know numerous other people who had as well, no left hand clip included. Most of them that I remember, and in my case as well, were recon 1's. I find that ridiculous if you're going to design an asymmetric clip and advertise that it's left and right side pocket clip.

For such a design feature as requiring 2 clips, it should not be so difficult to get a clip if they forget to include one, but more annoyingly is their choice to not include them.

Glad you got yours, some didn't.

EDIT: Did some more reading, looks like some talwars, range boss, and mini recons didn't get any either. Don't know why, don't really care, they should correct that. Any company interested in QA and continuous improvement would get this sorted out. Maybe it's just coincidence that GSM took over and pocket clips started being left out, but that also means it's on them to get it back in there. Based on your experiences, sounds like they're getting better about jt. It wasn't an uncommon incident last year.
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Just for the record, I didn't intend to imply you were lying, or incorrect. Just that it had changed back.

Three of the knives I've gotten this year with two clips were Recon 1's.
 
dogboye said:
Just for the record, I didn't intend to imply you were lying, or incorrect. Just that it had changed back.

Three of the knives I've gotten this year with two clips were Recon 1's.
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No worries, and thanks for the clarification.
 
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