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Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
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MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
 HPPUc/pBamzOfAwmKgX1ZgXzh0ryqF1III+RXiwZ7vMmW8e3nk5nQZc1PIbRQTyk
 6eYIR3a1qZ83y6S3r6XlAQ==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001144204-09-052957.txt : 20091014
<SEC-HEADER>0001144204-09-052957.hdr.sgml : 20091014
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20091014184330
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001144204-09-052957
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20091013
FILED AS OF DATE:		20091014
DATE AS OF CHANGE:		20091014

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			Bonomo Charles
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001409371

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	001-14130
		FILM NUMBER:		091120074

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		C/O MSC INDUSTRIAL DIRECT CO., INC.
		STREET 2:		75 MAXESS ROAD
		CITY:			MELVILLE
		STATE:			NY
		ZIP:			11747

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:			0901

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		75 MAXESS RD
		CITY:			MELVILLE
		STATE:			NY
		ZIP:			11747
		BUSINESS PHONE:		516-812-2000

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		75 MAXESS ROAD
		CITY:			MELVILLE
		STATE:			NY
		ZIP:			11747
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>v162864_ex.xml
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0303</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2009-10-13</periodOfReport>

    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

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

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001409371</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>Bonomo Charles</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>C/O MSC INDUSTRIAL DIRECT CO., INC.</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>75 MAXESS ROAD</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>MELVILLE</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>NY</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>11747</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>0</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>1</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
            <officerTitle>Vice President and CIO</officerTitle>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Class A Common Stock, $ 0.001 par value</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2009-10-13</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>A</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>2829</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>0</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>7993</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <derivativeTable>
        <derivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Options (right to buy)</value>
                <footnoteId id="F2"/>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <value>44.17</value>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2009-10-13</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>A</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>12303</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>0</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <exerciseDate>
                <footnoteId id="F3"/>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <value>2016-10-13</value>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Class A Common Stock, $.001 par value</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>12303</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>12303</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeTransaction>
    </derivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">These shares were granted under the Issuer's 2005 Omnibus Equity Plan, and are subject to restrictions on transfer that
 terminate as follows: one-half of such shares may be sold on or after October 13, 2012, an additional one-quarter may be
 sold on or after October 13, 2013 and an additional one-quarter may be sold on or after October 13, 2014.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F2">Represents options to purchase the Issuer's Class A Common Stock, $0.001 par value (&quot;Common Stock&quot;).</footnote>
        <footnote id="F3">An option to purchase 12,303 shares of the Issuer's Common Stock was issued to the Reporting Person under the Issuer's 2005
 Omnibus Equity Plan. 3,075 shares of Common Stock become exercisable on October 13, 2010 and 3,076 shares of Common Stock
 become exercisable on each of October 13, 2011, October 13, 2012 and October 13, 2013.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>/s/ Charles Bonomo</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2009-10-14</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
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