-----BEGIN PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----
Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
Originator-Key-Asymmetric:
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 TWSM7vrzLADbmYQaionwg5sDW3P6oaM5D3tdezXMm7z1T+B+twIDAQAB
MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
 I6GNW7MNFjKt4Hd92hNmfUjoPW6atlSrAXkPQRIIzXaMUJli2MSgSomc+6DRSYXq
 3dVKXf1b3jd63mG4TvIO+Q==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001026608-03-000082.txt : 20030625
<SEC-HEADER>0001026608-03-000082.hdr.sgml : 20030625
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20030625134315
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001026608-03-000082
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20030623
FILED AS OF DATE:		20030625

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			ACME UNITED CORP
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0000002098
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	CUTLERY, HANDTOOLS & GENERAL HARDWARE [3420]
		IRS NUMBER:				060236700
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			CT
		FISCAL YEAR END:			1231

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		1931 BLACK ROCK TURNPIKE
		CITY:			FAIRFIELD
		STATE:			CT
		ZIP:			06432
		BUSINESS PHONE:		2033327330

	FORMER COMPANY:	
		FORMER CONFORMED NAME:	ACME SHEAR CO
		DATE OF NAME CHANGE:	19710713

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			JOHNSEN WALTER C
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001014360
		FISCAL YEAR END:			1231

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	001-07698
		FILM NUMBER:		03756365

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		ACME UNITED CORP
		STREET 2:		75 KINGS HWY CUTOFF
		CITY:			FAIRFIELD
		STATE:			CT
		ZIP:			06430
		BUSINESS PHONE:		2033327330

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		C/O ACME UNITED CORP
		STREET 2:		75 KINGS HWY CUTOFF
		CITY:			FAIRFIELD
		STATE:			CT
		ZIP:			06430
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>acme_frm4wcj603ex.xml
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<!-- - EDGAR Ease Plus 1.0                                   04/22/03  TZ    -->
<ownershipDocument>
    <schemaVersion>X0101</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>
   <periodOfReport>2003-06-23</periodOfReport>
   <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>
    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000002098</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>ACME UNITED CORP</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>ACU</issuerTradingSymbol>
   </issuer>
   <reportingOwner>
      <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001014360</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>JOHNSEN WALTER C</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>  </rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>  </rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>  </rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>  </rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>  </rptOwnerZipCode>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
            <reportingOwnerRelationship>
         <isDirector>1</isDirector>
         <isOfficer>1</isOfficer>
         <isTenPercentOwner>1</isTenPercentOwner>
         <isOther>0</isOther>
         <officerTitle>President and CEO</officerTitle>
       </reportingOwnerRelationship>
   </reportingOwner>
   <derivativeSecurity>
      <securityTitle>
         <value>Stock Option</value>
      </securityTitle>
      <conversionOrExercisePrice>
         <value>4.00</value>
      </conversionOrExercisePrice>
      <transactionDate>
         <value>2003-06-23</value>
      </transactionDate>
      <transactionCoding>
         <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
         <transactionCode>A</transactionCode>
         <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
      </transactionCoding>
      <transactionAmounts>
         <transactionShares>
           <value>20000</value>
         </transactionShares>
         <transactionValue>
           <value>4.00</value>
         </transactionValue>
         <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
           <value>A</value>
         </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
      </transactionAmounts>
      <exerciseDate>
         <value>2003-06-23</value>
            <footnoteId id="F1"/>
            <footnoteId id="F2"/>
            <footnoteId id="F3"/>
            <footnoteId id="F4"/>
      </exerciseDate>
      <expirationDate>
         <value>2013-06-23</value>
      </expirationDate>
      <underlyingSecurity>
         <underlyingSecurityTitle>
           <value>Common Stock</value>
         </underlyingSecurityTitle>
         <underlyingSecurityShares>
           <value>20000</value>
         </underlyingSecurityShares>
      </underlyingSecurity>
      <postTransactionAmounts>
         <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
           <value>310000</value>
         </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
      </postTransactionAmounts>
      <ownershipNature>
         <directOrIndirectOwnership>
           <value>D</value>
         </directOrIndirectOwnership>
      </ownershipNature>
   </derivativeSecurity>
   <footnotes>
<footnote id="F1"> 5,000 shares vested on June 23, 2003</footnote>

<footnote id="F2"> 5,000 shares will vest on June 23, 2004</footnote>

<footnote id="F3"> 5,000 shares will vest on June 23, 2005</footnote>

<footnote id="F4"> 5,000 shares will vest on June 23, 2006</footnote>
   </footnotes>
   <ownerSignature>
      <signatureName>Walter C. Johnsen</signatureName>
      <signatureDate>2003-06-23</signatureDate>
   </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>

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