Military Pins — Cotter, Dowel & Clevis
Military pins serve three very different jobs under one category name: cotter pins mechanically lock a fastener assembly against rotation, dowel pins precisely align mating components, and clevis pins act as dedicated pivot or quick-release shear fasteners. Ananka manufactures and exports these to customers across 40+ countries.
Military Pins We Manufacture
Cotter Pins
Split, semi-circular wire pin inserted through a cross-drilled hole and bent open to mechanically lock a castle nut, clevis pin, or shaft against rotation.
Dowel Pins
Precision-ground cylindrical pins that align two mating components to a tight tolerance, transferring shear load without relying on a bolt's clamping friction.
Clevis Pins
Smooth cylindrical pin that serves as the pivot axis in a fork (clevis) joint, typically retained by a cotter pin or retaining ring through a cross-drilled hole.
Overview: How Military Pins Are Specified
Cotter pins under FF-P-386 are one of the simplest and most reliable locking devices in the fastener toolkit — a purely mechanical block against rotation, rather than a friction-based mechanism, which makes them a favored solution for high-vibration or safety-critical joints. They're inherently single-use: once bent open for installation, the legs shouldn't be straightened and reused. Buyers in different regions often search for this same hardware as "split pins," "R-clips," or "MIL-SPEC locking pins" — Ananka manufactures and exports under all of these designations to customers in Oil & Gas, Power, Nuclear, Marine, Aerospace, and Defense sectors.
Dowel pins and clevis pins serve structural rather than locking roles. Dowel pins are manufactured to precise diametral tolerances (often a slight interference fit) so two components align repeatably during assembly or disassembly, common in engine timing components and jig/fixture work — commercial dowel pin dimensions typically follow ASME B18.8.2. Clevis pins act as the pivot point in a fork-and-tang joint — carrying shear load as the joint rotates — and are almost always paired with a cotter pin or retaining ring to prevent axial migration out of the clevis; aerospace clevis pins are commonly specified under the MS20392 designation.
For the castle nuts and self-locking hardware that cotter pins are most often paired with, see Ananka's military nuts category; for the bolts and studs that dowel and clevis pins align or pivot against, see military bolts and military stud bolts.
- Common pin materials include carbon steel, corrosion resistant steel, and brass, selected based on environment and whether non-magnetic properties are needed.
- Cotter pin finish is typically cadmium plate per QQ-P-416 Type 2, Class 3.
Which Pin Type Do You Need?
Function determines which pin family fits your joint.
Applicable Standards
Explore the individual military pin specifications Ananka manufactures to.
Compliance & Sourcing References
Verify the governing federal specification through official government sources.
Free specification text for FF-P-386 is available through the Defense Logistics Agency's ASSIST QuickSearch portal. NSN cross-references and procurement history can be checked via DLA DIBBS. Ananka Fasteners manufactures pins to the current active revision of whichever standard your drawing calls out, and supplies full Mill Test Certification with every shipment worldwide.
Military Pins — Frequently Asked Questions
Can a cotter pin be reused after removal?
No — once bent open for installation, a cotter pin should not be straightened and reinstalled. The bending process fatigues and weakens the material, so a new pin should be used at every reassembly.
What's the difference between a dowel pin and a clevis pin?
A dowel pin precisely aligns two stationary mating components and is typically a tight interference fit. A clevis pin acts as a rotating pivot axis within a fork joint and is a closer-clearance fit, secured axially by a separate retaining device such as a cotter pin.
Why are cotter pins preferred over self-locking nuts in some joints?
A cotter pin provides a purely mechanical block against rotation that doesn't degrade with vibration cycling the way a friction-based self-locking device eventually can, making it a favored choice for safety-critical pin and castle-nut joints.
Does Ananka Fasteners export military pins internationally?
Yes — Ananka manufactures and exports cotter, dowel, and clevis pins to customers across 40+ countries in the Oil & Gas, Power, Nuclear, Marine, Aerospace, and Defense sectors, with subsidiary support entities in the UK and USA.
Need Military Pins to Print?
Ananka Fasteners manufactures cotter, dowel, and clevis pins with full material traceability and Mill Test Certification on every lot.
Prefer email? sales@anankafasteners.com
