-----BEGIN PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----
Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
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 TWSM7vrzLADbmYQaionwg5sDW3P6oaM5D3tdezXMm7z1T+B+twIDAQAB
MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
 BRR4BwsYNhRsbI2JnSm0h2nEvE8CuFSVYQQZSMC9q2F/S+x33Tq0hxKv0SUgM/7T
 LYs42ViZ2NN8FR/02L8rLw==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001181431-04-011556.txt : 20040224
<SEC-HEADER>0001181431-04-011556.hdr.sgml : 20040224
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20040224092708
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001181431-04-011556
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20040223
FILED AS OF DATE:		20040224

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			BNS CO
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0000014637
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	REAL ESTATE [6500]
		IRS NUMBER:				050113140
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			DE
		FISCAL YEAR END:			1231

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		25 ENTERPRISE CENTER
		STREET 2:		SUITE 103
		CITY:			MIDDLETOWN
		STATE:			RI
		ZIP:			02842
		BUSINESS PHONE:		401-848-6310

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		25 ENTERPRISE CENTER
		STREET 2:		SUITE 103
		CITY:			MIDDLETOWN
		STATE:			RI
		ZIP:			02842

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			NELSON JOHN M
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001024055

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	001-05881
		FILM NUMBER:		04623525

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		365 PLANTATION ST
		STREET 2:		C/O CAMBRIDGE BIOTECH CORP
		CITY:			WORCESTER
		STATE:			MA
		ZIP:			01605
		BUSINESS PHONE:		5087913511

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		C/O CAMBRIDGE BIOTECH CORP
		STREET 2:		365 PLANTATION ST
		CITY:			WORCESTER
		STATE:			MA
		ZIP:			01605
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>rrd34316.xml
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0201</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2004-02-23</periodOfReport>

    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000014637</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>BNS CO</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>BNSXA</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001024055</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>NELSON JOHN M</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>TWO AVERY ST., SOUTH TOWER, 27E</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>BOSTON</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>MA</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>02111</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>1</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Class A Common Stock</value>
                <footnoteId id="F1"/>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2004-02-23</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>A</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>1000</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>0</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>46800</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">Award of Restricted Stock Under the Issuer's 1999 Equity Incentive Plan subject to vesting.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>Sandra B. Kearney, by Power of Attorney</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2004-02-23</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>

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