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Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
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<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001104659-04-033375.txt : 20041103
<SEC-HEADER>0001104659-04-033375.hdr.sgml : 20041103
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20041103190641
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001104659-04-033375
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20041101
FILED AS OF DATE:		20041103
DATE AS OF CHANGE:		20041103

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

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			ECCLESTON THOMAS
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001244708

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	001-14130
		FILM NUMBER:		041117656

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

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		C/O MSC INDUSTRIAL DIRECT CO INC
		STREET 2:		75 MAXESS RD
		CITY:			MLEVILLE
		STATE:			NY
		ZIP:			11747
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>a4.xml
<DESCRIPTION>4
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
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        <issuerName>MSC INDUSTRIAL DIRECT CO INC</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>MSM</issuerTradingSymbol>
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            <rptOwnerStreet2>75 MAXESS RD</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>MLEVILLE</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>NY</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>11747</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
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            <isOfficer>1</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
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                    <value>D</value>
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    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <derivativeTable>
        <derivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Options (right to buy)</value>
                <footnoteId id="F1"/>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <value>7.75</value>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2004-11-01</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>M</transactionCode>
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            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
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            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>2138</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>0</value>
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                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>D</value>
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            <exerciseDate>
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            <expirationDate>
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            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>See Footnote</value>
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                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
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            <ownershipNature>
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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 16,000 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 19, 2000, October 19, 2001, October 19, 2002, October 19, 2003 and October 19, 2004.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F3">Class A Common Stock, $.001 par value.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F4">Because the SEC's electronic filing system does not allow for the disclosure of more than 30 transactions on one Form 4, the Reporting Person is filing 2 simultaneous Form 4's to report his reportable transactions of which together shall be deemed a single report filed on this date. This is the 1st Form 4 of 2 filings.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>/s/ Thomas Eccleston</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2004-11-03</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>

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