<SUBMISSION>
<ACCESSION-NUMBER>0001160519-04-000002
<TYPE>3
<PUBLIC-DOCUMENT-COUNT>1
<PERIOD>20041017
<FILING-DATE>20041027
<DATE-OF-FILING-DATE-CHANGE>20041027
<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>GOODSPEED LINDA
<CIK>0001160519
</OWNER-DATA>
<FILING-VALUES>
<FORM-TYPE>3
<ACT>34
<FILE-NUMBER>000-27618
<FILM-NUMBER>041099019
</FILING-VALUES>
<BUSINESS-ADDRESS>
<STREET1>C/O LENNOX INTERNATIONAL INC
<STREET2>2140 LAKE PARK BLVD
<CITY>RICHARDSON
<STATE>TX
<ZIP>75080-2254
<PHONE>9724975000
</BUSINESS-ADDRESS>
<MAIL-ADDRESS>
<STREET1>C/O LENNOX INTERNATIONAL INC
<STREET2>2140 LAKE PARK BLVD
<CITY>RICHARDSON
<STATE>TX
<ZIP>75080-2254
</MAIL-ADDRESS>
</REPORTING-OWNER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>3
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>edgar.xml
<DESCRIPTION>PRIMARY DOCUMENT
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0202</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>3</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2004-10-17</periodOfReport>

    <noSecuritiesOwned>0</noSecuritiesOwned>

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

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001160519</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>GOODSPEED LINDA</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>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
        <nonDerivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>0</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value></value>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeHolding>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <footnotes></footnotes>

    <remarks></remarks>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>Linda A. Goodspeed</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2004-10-27</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>

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