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Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
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 4jS8eYo9pxsNwl7Z3KVBwg==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001104659-04-021467.txt : 20040729
<SEC-HEADER>0001104659-04-021467.hdr.sgml : 20040729
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20040729140308
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001104659-04-021467
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20040727
FILED AS OF DATE:		20040729

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			COX THOMAS
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001244856

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	001-14130
		FILM NUMBER:		04938435

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

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:		75 MAXESS RD
		CITY:			MELVILLE
		STATE:			NY
		ZIP:			11747
		BUSINESS PHONE:		516-812-2000

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		151 SUNNYSIDE BLVD
		CITY:			PLAINVIEW
		STATE:			NY
		ZIP:			11803
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>a4.xml
<DESCRIPTION>4
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0202</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2004-07-27</periodOfReport>

    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0001003078</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>MSC INDUSTRIAL DIRECT CO INC</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>MSM</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
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            <rptOwnerCik>0001244856</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>COX THOMAS</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1></rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity></rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState></rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode></rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
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        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>0</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>1</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
            <officerTitle>Sr. VP of Sales</officerTitle>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
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            <securityTitle>
                <value>Class A Common Stock, $.001 par value</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2004-07-27</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>M</transactionCode>
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            <transactionTimeliness>
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            <transactionAmounts>
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                <transactionPricePerShare>
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            <postTransactionAmounts>
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        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
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                <transactionPricePerShare>
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            <transactionCoding>
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        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
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            <transactionDate>
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            <transactionCoding>
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                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
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                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
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            <ownershipNature>
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                    <value>D</value>
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        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Class A Common Stock, $.001 par value</value>
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            <transactionDate>
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            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>S</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
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            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
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            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>30</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>31.66</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>D</value>
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                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
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            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
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        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Class A Common Stock, $.001 par value</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2004-07-27</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>S</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
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            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
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            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>575</value>
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                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>31.67</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>D</value>
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            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>4751</value>
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        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
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            <transactionCoding>
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            <transactionTimeliness>
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                <transactionPricePerShare>
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                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
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                    <value>4307</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
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        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
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            <transactionDate>
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            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>S</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
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            <transactionTimeliness>
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            <transactionAmounts>
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                <transactionPricePerShare>
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                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
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                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
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                    <value>D</value>
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        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Class A Common Stock, $.001 par value</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2004-07-27</value>
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            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>S</transactionCode>
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            <transactionTimeliness>
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            <transactionAmounts>
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                <transactionPricePerShare>
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        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
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    <derivativeTable>
        <derivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Options (right to buy)</value>
                <footnoteId id="F1"/>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <value>14.25</value>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2004-07-27</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>M</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>3276</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>0</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>D</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <exerciseDate>
                <footnoteId id="F2"/>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <value>2008-10-14</value>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>See Footnote</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F3"/>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>3276</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
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                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
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                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
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                <footnoteId id="F1"/>
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            <transactionDate>
                <value>2004-07-27</value>
            </transactionDate>
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                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>M</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
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                <value></value>
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                <transactionShares>
                    <value>81</value>
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                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>0</value>
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                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>D</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
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            <exerciseDate>
                <footnoteId id="F4"/>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <value>2007-11-19</value>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>See Footnote</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F3"/>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>81</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>5919</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
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            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
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        </derivativeTransaction>
    </derivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">Options to purchase Issuer's Class A common stock, $.001 par value.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F2">An option to purchase 32,000 shares of the Issuer's common stock, par value $.001 per share, was issued to the Reporting Person under the Issuer's 1998 Stock Option Plan. One-fifth of such option became exercisable on each of October 14, 1999, October 14, 2000, October 14, 2001, October 14, 2002, and October 14, 2003.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F3">Class A common stock, $.001 par value.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F4">An option to purchase 6,000 shares of the Issuer's common stock, par value $.001 per share, was issued to the Reporting Person under the Issuer's 1995 Stock Option Plan. One-fifth of such option became exercisable on each of November 19, 1998, November 19, 1999, November 19, 2000, November 19, 2001, and November 19, 2002.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>/s/ Thomas Cox</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2004-07-29</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>

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