-----BEGIN PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----
Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
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<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001104659-05-034183.txt : 20050726
<SEC-HEADER>0001104659-05-034183.hdr.sgml : 20050726
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20050726170932
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001104659-05-034183
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20050722
FILED AS OF DATE:		20050726
DATE AS OF CHANGE:		20050726

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:		05974904

	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>2005-07-22</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>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2005-07-22</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>M</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
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            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>7554</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>13.9375</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
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                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
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                <transactionPricePerShare>
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                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
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                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
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        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
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            <transactionDate>
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            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
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            <transactionAmounts>
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                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
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            <transactionCoding>
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            <transactionTimeliness>
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            <transactionAmounts>
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                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>35.85</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>D</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
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            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>20472</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
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            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
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        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Class A Common Stock, $0.001 par value</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2005-07-25</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>M</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
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            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>1888</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>13.9375</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>22360</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Class A Common Stock, $0.001 par value</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2005-07-25</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>M</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>4000</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>14.50</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
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            <ownershipNature>
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        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Class A Common Stock, $0.001 par value</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2005-07-25</value>
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            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>S</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
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            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>3888</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>36.00</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>D</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
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                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
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                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Class A Common Stock, $0.001 par value</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2005-07-25</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>S</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>2000</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>35.95</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>D</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
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            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>20472</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
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                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <derivativeTable>
        <derivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Options (right to buy)</value>
                <footnoteId id="F1"/>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <value>13.9375</value>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2005-07-22</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>M</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>7554</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>0</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>D</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <exerciseDate>
                <footnoteId id="F2"/>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <value>2010-11-09</value>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>See Footnote</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F3"/>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>7554</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>1888</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
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                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
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                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
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        <derivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Options (right to buy)</value>
                <footnoteId id="F1"/>
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            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
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                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>M</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
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                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>D</value>
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            <exerciseDate>
                <footnoteId id="F2"/>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <value>2010-11-09</value>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>See Footnote</value>
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                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
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                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
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                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>0</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
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                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
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        <derivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Options (right to buy)</value>
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            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
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                <value>2005-07-25</value>
            </transactionDate>
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                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>M</transactionCode>
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            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
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            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>4000</value>
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                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>0</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>D</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
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            <exerciseDate>
                <footnoteId id="F4"/>
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            <expirationDate>
                <value>2011-09-21</value>
            </expirationDate>
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                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>See Footnote</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F3"/>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
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                    <value>4000</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
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                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>46000</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
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                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
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        </derivativeTransaction>
    </derivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">Option to purchase Issuer's Class A common stock, $.001 par value</footnote>
        <footnote id="F2">An option to purchase 40,000 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 November 9, 2001 and the balance of such option became exercisable on March 1, 2002.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F3">Class A Common Stock, $.001 par value</footnote>
        <footnote id="F4">An option to purchase 50,000 shares of the Issuer's common stock, par value $.001 per share was issued to the Reporting person under the Issuer's 2001 Stock Option Plan.  Such option became exercisable on March 1, 2002.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>/s/ Charles A. Boehlke, Jr., Attorney-in-Fact</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2005-07-26</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
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