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Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
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MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
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 YV5SxYmoUJEiDUrvOnveDg==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001104659-03-022775.txt : 20031016
<SEC-HEADER>0001104659-03-022775.hdr.sgml : 20031016
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20031014214038
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001104659-03-022775
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	5
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20030830
FILED AS OF DATE:		20031014

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			MSC INDUSTRIAL DIRECT CO INC
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001003078
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	WHOLESALE-INDUSTRIAL MACHINERY & EQUIPMENT [5084]
		IRS NUMBER:				113289165
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			NY
		FISCAL YEAR END:			0902

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		151 SUNNYSIDE BLVD
		CITY:			PLAINVIEW
		STATE:			NY
		ZIP:			11803
		BUSINESS PHONE:		5163497100

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		151 SUNNYSIDE BLVD
		CITY:			PLAINVIEW
		STATE:			NY
		ZIP:			11803

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			JACOBSON MITCHELL
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001008015

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		5
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	001-14130
		FILM NUMBER:		03940632

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		MSC INDUSTRIAL DIRECT CO INC
		STREET 2:		75 MAXESA RD
		CITY:			PLAINVIEW
		STATE:			NY
		ZIP:			11747
		BUSINESS PHONE:		5168122000

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		151 SUNNYDALE BLVD
		CITY:			PLAINVIEW
		STATE:			NY
		ZIP:			11803-1592
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>5
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>a5.xml
<DESCRIPTION>5
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-8"?>
<ownershipDocument>
    <schemaVersion>X0201</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>5</documentType>
  <periodOfReport>2003-08-30</periodOfReport>
  <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>
    <form3HoldingsReported>0</form3HoldingsReported>

    <form4TransactionsReported>0</form4TransactionsReported>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0001003078</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>MSC INDUSTRIAL DIRECT CO INC</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>MSM</issuerTradingSymbol>
  </issuer>
  <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001008015</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>JACOBSON MITCHELL</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>151 SUNNYDALE BLVD</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>PLAINVIEW</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>NY</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>11803-1592</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
            <reportingOwnerRelationship>
      <isDirector>1</isDirector>
      <isOfficer>1</isOfficer>
      <isTenPercentOwner>1</isTenPercentOwner>
      <isOther>0</isOther>
      <officerTitle>President &amp; CEO</officerTitle>
    </reportingOwnerRelationship>
  </reportingOwner>
  <derivativeTable>
    <derivativeTransaction>
      <securityTitle>
        <value>Class B Common Stock, $.001 par value</value>
      </securityTitle>
      <conversionOrExercisePrice>
        <value>0</value>
        <footnoteId id="F1"/>
      </conversionOrExercisePrice>
      <transactionDate>
        <value>2003-04-07</value>
      </transactionDate>
      <transactionCoding>
        <transactionFormType>5</transactionFormType>
        <transactionCode>G</transactionCode>
        <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
        <footnoteId id="F2"/>
      </transactionCoding>
      <transactionTimeliness>
        <value></value>
      </transactionTimeliness>
      <transactionAmounts>
        <transactionShares>
          <value>388247</value>
        </transactionShares>
        <transactionPricePerShare>
          <value>0</value>
        </transactionPricePerShare>
        <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
          <value>A</value>
        </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
      </transactionAmounts>
      <exerciseDate>
        <footnoteId id="F6"/>
      </exerciseDate>
      <expirationDate>
        <footnoteId id="F7"/>
      </expirationDate>
      <underlyingSecurity>
        <underlyingSecurityTitle>
          <value>SEE FOOTNOTE</value>
          <footnoteId id="F4"/>
        </underlyingSecurityTitle>
        <underlyingSecurityShares>
          <value>388247</value>
        </underlyingSecurityShares>
      </underlyingSecurity>
      <postTransactionAmounts>
        <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
          <value>18743357</value>
          <footnoteId id="F5"/>
        </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
      </postTransactionAmounts>
      <ownershipNature>
        <directOrIndirectOwnership>
          <value>D</value>
        </directOrIndirectOwnership>
      </ownershipNature>
    </derivativeTransaction>
    <derivativeTransaction>
      <securityTitle>
        <value>Class B Common Stock, $.001 par value</value>
      </securityTitle>
      <conversionOrExercisePrice>
        <value>0</value>
        <footnoteId id="F1"/>
      </conversionOrExercisePrice>
      <transactionDate>
        <value>2003-04-07</value>
      </transactionDate>
      <transactionCoding>
        <transactionFormType>5</transactionFormType>
        <transactionCode>G</transactionCode>
        <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
        <footnoteId id="F3"/>
      </transactionCoding>
      <transactionTimeliness>
        <value></value>
      </transactionTimeliness>
      <transactionAmounts>
        <transactionShares>
          <value>391071</value>
        </transactionShares>
        <transactionPricePerShare>
          <value>0</value>
        </transactionPricePerShare>
        <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
          <value>D</value>
        </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
      </transactionAmounts>
      <exerciseDate>
        <footnoteId id="F6"/>
      </exerciseDate>
      <expirationDate>
        <footnoteId id="F7"/>
      </expirationDate>
      <underlyingSecurity>
        <underlyingSecurityTitle>
          <value>SEE FOOTNOTE</value>
          <footnoteId id="F4"/>
        </underlyingSecurityTitle>
        <underlyingSecurityShares>
          <value>391071</value>
        </underlyingSecurityShares>
      </underlyingSecurity>
      <postTransactionAmounts>
        <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
          <value>18743357</value>
          <footnoteId id="F5"/>
        </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
      </postTransactionAmounts>
      <ownershipNature>
        <directOrIndirectOwnership>
          <value>D</value>
        </directOrIndirectOwnership>
      </ownershipNature>
    </derivativeTransaction>
  </derivativeTable>
  <footnotes>
    <footnote id="F1">1-to-1</footnote>
    <footnote id="F2">Distribution in kind by the Mitchell Jacobson 1998 Qualified Seven Year Annuity Trust to reporting person.</footnote>
    <footnote id="F3">Distribution in kind as Trustee of the Marjorie Diane Gershwind 1998 Qualified Seven Year Annuity Trust to Marjorie Gershwind.</footnote>
    <footnote id="F4">Class A Common Stock, $.001 par value.</footnote>
    <footnote id="F5">Includes 10,950,814 shares of Class B Common Stock directly owned by Mr. Jacobson, 386,142 shares of Class B Common Stock as Settlor of the Mitchell Jacobson 1998 Qualified Seven Year Annuity Trust, 374,401 shares of Class B Common Stock as Trustee of the Marjorie Diane Gershwind 1998 Qualified Seven Year Annuity Trust, and 7,032,000 shares of Class B Common Stock held by JF-MSC, L.L.C.  Reporting person is the sole voting member of JF-MSC, L.L.C. and disclaims beneficial ownership of the shares held by JF-MSC, L.L.C. except to the extent of his pecuniary interest therein.  The Reporting Person also disclaims beneficial ownership of the shares held by the Mitchell Jacobson 1998 Qualified Seven Year Annuity Trust and the Marjorie Diane Gershwind 1998 Qualified Seven Year Annuity Trust.</footnote>
    <footnote id="F6">Immediately</footnote>
    <footnote id="F7">None</footnote>
  </footnotes>
  <ownerSignature>
    <signatureName>/s/ J. Robert Small, Attorney-in-Fact</signatureName>
    <signatureDate>2003-10-14</signatureDate>
  </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>

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</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
-----END PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----