-----BEGIN PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----
Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
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MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
 P3dHD4khqs9gP+LNvJRPi0b0yKSRNi9bTyzVbixHa9OhEIgquY1CKDlqbqzB/dDC
 8MSS1/6BLS3WxKVQqJ0dJQ==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001104659-03-022776.txt : 20031016
<SEC-HEADER>0001104659-03-022776.hdr.sgml : 20031016
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20031014214053
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001104659-03-022776
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:			GERSHWIND MARJORIE
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001197828

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		5
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	001-14130
		FILM NUMBER:		03940633

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

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		C/O MSC INDUSRTRIAL DIRECT CO INC
		STREET 2:		75 MAXESE RD
		CITY:			MELVILLE
		STATE:			NY
		ZIP:			11747
</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>0001197828</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>GERSHWIND MARJORIE</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>C/O MSC INDUSRTRIAL DIRECT CO INC</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>75 MAXESE RD</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>MELVILLE</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>NY</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>11747</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
            <reportingOwnerRelationship>
      <isDirector>0</isDirector>
      <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
      <isTenPercentOwner>1</isTenPercentOwner>
      <isOther>0</isOther>
    </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>391071</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>391071</value>
        </underlyingSecurityShares>
      </underlyingSecurity>
      <postTransactionAmounts>
        <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
          <value>11721932</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>7748</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>7748</value>
        </underlyingSecurityShares>
      </underlyingSecurity>
      <postTransactionAmounts>
        <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
          <value>11721932</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 Marjorie Diane Gershwind 1998 Qualified Seven Year Annuity Trust to reporting person.</footnote>
    <footnote id="F3">Distribution in kind by the Marjorie Diane Gershwind 1994 Qualified Fifteen Year Annuity Interest Trust to reporting person.</footnote>
    <footnote id="F4">Class A Common Stock, $.001 par value.</footnote>
    <footnote id="F5">Includes 4,701,285 shares of Class B Common Stock directly owned by Ms. Gershwind, 374,401 shares of Class B Common Stock as Settlor of the Marjorie Diane Gershwind 1998 Qualified Seven Year Annuity Trust, 946,246 shares of Class B Common Stock as Settlor of the Marjorie Diane Gershwind 1994 Qualified Fifteen Year Annuity Interest Trust, and 5,700,000 shares of Class B Common Stock held by GF-MSC, L.L.C. Reporting person is the sole voting member of GF-MSC, L.L.C. and disclaims beneficial ownership of the shares held by GF-MSC, L.L.C. except to the extent of her pecuniary interest therein.  The Reporting Person also disclaims beneficial ownership of the shares held by the Marjorie Diane Gershwind 1998 Qualified Seven Year Annuity Trust and the Marjorie Diane Gershwind 1994 Qualified Fifteen Year Annuity Interest 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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</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
-----END PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----