Hinge pin guide rod?.......For real!

[florida man]

I had read that someone here had fabricated a full length recoil spring guide rod from a 4" door hinge pin.  As one that is always on the lookout for inexpensive, but effective ideas, I had to check this one out.  I remember the OP said he had to buy a complete 4" hinge at his local Lowes in order to get the suitable pin.  Not at mine!  They sell a four pack of just the 4" pins.  They were in a satin nickel finish or brass.  The brass did look to be simply a gold color plating, but I did not have a magnet with me to check.  Since the price was right, I grabbed a pack of the nickel pins.

I turned down the head of the pin to .390 and trimmed the overall length to 3.955"  I added a slight bevel on the muzzle end to get it through the spring plug easily, as this is a tight fit as to length.   Seems to work fine!  If this interests anyone,  the pins are made by Gate House.  The part number is 0308899.  The price for the pack of pins was a "bubba" licous $1.47.

[Joe L]

If I can trim the dimensions with just a file, I might try one!  I've still got the factory polymer one in my 97.   

This seems somewhat consistent with my use of a ball point pin spring in a Kadet in place of a lost factory firing pin spring.

Joe

[florida man]

Stopped by my local Lowe’s with magnet in hand to see if the brass finished pins were all brass.  Nope, just plated steel.  I would have been all over them if they were solid brass.  They were marked down at 95 cents for the four pack.

[DJK11]

I did this a while back with a stainless hinge pin.  After about 140 rounds the pin was scratched and scored beyond recognition.  Went back to the plastic rod.  Waaay tooo much metal on metal for my liking.

[Joe L]

Yep, that's what I am afraid of also.  I'll stick to the plastic one as I don't need the additional weight with the 97, unlike the polymer guns, where the weight is good for me.
Joe

[SI VIS PACEM PARRABELLUM]

I have aftermarket properly machined guide rods in all my CZ's, Sigs and Beretta's and there's no adverse wear to either the guns or the guide rods. Properly made parts are the key and you get what you pay for.

[florida man]

One would think that a stainless steel hinge pin would be a better solution than what Lowes offered.  SS tends to be rather hard.  Sorry to hear that your pin did not work out.  I will definitely keep an eye out for unusual wear.

[SI VIS PACEM PARRABELLUM]

  SS tends to be rather hard.  Sorry to hear that your pin did not work out.  I will definitely keep an eye out for unusual wear.

Hardness depends on the type and level of heat treatment and SS is generally softer than carbon steels even in some of it's hardest forms. There's a reason back in the wheel gun days that guys would put blue steel cylinders on their stainless steel guns. The stainless cylinders were softer and would show wear sooner in the lock up areas.