-----BEGIN PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----
Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
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MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
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 ntdxiyYrr0/VcIMu9LSTOw==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001104659-04-033698.txt : 20041104
<SEC-HEADER>0001104659-04-033698.hdr.sgml : 20041104
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20041104194208
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001104659-04-033698
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20041102
FILED AS OF DATE:		20041104
DATE AS OF CHANGE:		20041104

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:			SCHROEDER JAMES A
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001244705

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	001-14130
		FILM NUMBER:		041120927

	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"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0202</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2004-11-02</periodOfReport>

    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

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

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001244705</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>SCHROEDER JAMES A</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>C/O MSC INDUSTRIAL DIRECT CO INC</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>75 MAXESS RD</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>MLEVILLE</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>NY</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>11747</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>0</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>1</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
            <officerTitle>SR. VP of LOGISTICS</officerTitle>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Class A Common Stock, $0.001 par value</value>
                <footnoteId id="F1"/>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2004-11-02</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>S</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>42</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>34.09</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>D</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>19119</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
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            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>967</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>34.10</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>D</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
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                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
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                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Class A Common Stock, $0.001 par value</value>
                <footnoteId id="F1"/>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2004-11-02</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
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            <transactionTimeliness>
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            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>1178</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>34.11</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>D</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
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                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>16974</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
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            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
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        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Class A Common Stock, $0.001 par value</value>
                <footnoteId id="F1"/>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2004-11-02</value>
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            <transactionCoding>
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                <transactionCode>S</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
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            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
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                    <value>42</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>34.12</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>D</value>
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            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>16932</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Class A Common Stock, $0.001 par value</value>
                <footnoteId id="F1"/>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2004-11-02</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>S</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>631</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>34.13</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>D</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>16301</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Class A Common Stock, $0.001 par value</value>
                <footnoteId id="F1"/>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2004-11-02</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>S</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>42</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>34.14</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>D</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>16259</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Class A Common Stock, $0.001 par value</value>
                <footnoteId id="F1"/>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2004-11-02</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>S</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>379</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>34.15</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>D</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>15880</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">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 3 simultaneous Form 4's to report his reportable transactions all of which together shall be deemed a single report filed on this date.  This is the 3rd Form 4 of the 3 filings.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>/s/ James Schroeder</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2004-11-04</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>

</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
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