<SUBMISSION>
<ACCESSION-NUMBER>0001214456-04-000002
<TYPE>5
<PUBLIC-DOCUMENT-COUNT>1
<PERIOD>20040331
<FILING-DATE>20040519
<ISSUER>
<COMPANY-DATA>
<CONFORMED-NAME>COLUMBUS MCKINNON CORP
<CIK>0001005229
<ASSIGNED-SIC>3531
<IRS-NUMBER>160547600
<STATE-OF-INCORPORATION>NY
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>0331
</COMPANY-DATA>
<BUSINESS-ADDRESS>
<STREET1>140 JOHN JAMES AUDUBON PKWY
<CITY>AMHERST
<STATE>NY
<ZIP>14228-1197
<PHONE>7166895400
</BUSINESS-ADDRESS>
<MAIL-ADDRESS>
<STREET1>140 JOHN JAMES AUDUBON PARKWAY
<CITY>AMHERST
<STATE>NY
<ZIP>14228-1197
</MAIL-ADDRESS>
</ISSUER>
<REPORTING-OWNER>
<OWNER-DATA>
<CONFORMED-NAME>MONTGOMERY ROBERT L
<CIK>0001214456
</OWNER-DATA>
<FILING-VALUES>
<FORM-TYPE>5
<ACT>34
<FILE-NUMBER>000-27618
<FILM-NUMBER>04818758
</FILING-VALUES>
<BUSINESS-ADDRESS>
<STREET1>140 JOHN JAMES AUDUBON PARKWAY
<CITY>AMHERST
<STATE>NY
<ZIP>14228-1197
<PHONE>7166895409
</BUSINESS-ADDRESS>
<MAIL-ADDRESS>
<STREET1>140 JOHN JAMES AUDUBON PARKWAY
<CITY>AMHERST
<STATE>NY
<ZIP>14228-1197
</MAIL-ADDRESS>
</REPORTING-OWNER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>5
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>edgar.xml
<DESCRIPTION>PRIMARY DOCUMENT
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0202</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>5</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2004-03-31</periodOfReport>

    <form3HoldingsReported>0</form3HoldingsReported>

    <form4TransactionsReported>0</form4TransactionsReported>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0001005229</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>COLUMBUS MCKINNON CORP</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>CMCO</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001214456</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>MONTGOMERY ROBERT L</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>140 JOHN JAMES AUDUBON PARKWAY</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>AMHERST</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>NY</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>14228-1197</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>1</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>1</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
            <officerTitle>Executive Vice Pres.</officerTitle>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
        <nonDerivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>1050328</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value></value>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeHolding>
        <nonDerivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>2417</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value></value>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeHolding>
        <nonDerivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>85000</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>I</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value>By Spouse</value>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeHolding>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2004-03-31</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>5</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>A</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>141</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F2"/>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>0</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>15018</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value></value>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">Represents shares of restricted stock issued to reporting person under the Columbus McKinnon Corporation Restricted Stock Plan dated as of 10/27/95, as amended, subject to forfeiture; shares become fully vested and non-forfeitable if reporting person remains an employee of issuer through 6/10/04.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F2">Reports shares allocated to account of reporting person under the Columbus McKinnon Corporation Employee Stock Ownership Plan, as amended (the &quot;ESOP&quot;).</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <remarks></remarks>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>Robert L. Montgomery</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2004-05-19</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>

</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SUBMISSION>
