-----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,
 UK4kmGz4HgQC0wj1p51MDiGLetGrurv97dbdEA/WpYnyqvgbGCWIvi3llCUZjEHm
 IxLdpbACn39RTWWyKpwKfw==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001181431-03-021374.txt : 20030902
<SEC-HEADER>0001181431-03-021374.hdr.sgml : 20030901
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20030902163049
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001181431-03-021374
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20030901
FILED AS OF DATE:		20030902

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			GRAINGER W W INC
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0000277135
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	WHOLESALE-DURABLE GOODS [5000]
		IRS NUMBER:				361150280
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			IL
		FISCAL YEAR END:			1231

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		100 GRAINGER PARKWAY
		CITY:			LAKE FOREST
		STATE:			IL
		ZIP:			60045-5201
		BUSINESS PHONE:		847-535-1000

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		100 GRAINGER PARKWAY
		CITY:			LAKE FOREST
		STATE:			IL
		ZIP:			60045

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			NOVICH NEIL S
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001006057

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	001-05684
		FILM NUMBER:		03876648

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		RYERSON TULL INC
		STREET 2:		2621 W 15TH PLACE
		CITY:			CHICAGO
		STATE:			IL
		ZIP:			60603
		BUSINESS PHONE:		7737622121

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		RYERSON LTULL INC
		STREET 2:		2621 W 15TH PLACE
		CITY:			CHICAGO
		STATE:			IL
		ZIP:			60603
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>rrd17032.xml
<DESCRIPTION>FORM 4
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?><ownershipDocument>
    <schemaVersion>X0201</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType><periodOfReport>2003-09-01</periodOfReport><notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>
    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000277135</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>GRAINGER W W INC</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>GWW</issuerTradingSymbol></issuer><reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001006057</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>NOVICH NEIL S</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>100 GRAINGER PARKWAY</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>LAKE FOREST</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>IL</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>60045-5201</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
            <reportingOwnerRelationship>
<isDirector>1</isDirector><isOfficer>0</isOfficer><isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner><isOther>0</isOther></reportingOwnerRelationship></reportingOwner><nonDerivativeTable><nonDerivativeHolding><securityTitle><value>Common Stock</value></securityTitle><postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>4690</value></sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction></postTransactionAmounts><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>D</value></directOrIndirectOwnership></ownershipNature></nonDerivativeHolding></nonDerivativeTable><derivativeTable><derivativeTransaction><securityTitle><value>Stock Units</value></securityTitle><conversionOrExercisePrice><footnoteId id="F1"/></conversionOrExercisePrice><transactionDate><value>2003-09-01</value></transactionDate><transactionCoding><transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType><transactionCode>A</transactionCode><equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved></transactionCoding><transactionAmounts><transactionShares><value>5</value></transactionShares><transactionP
ricePerShare><value>49.83</value></transactionPricePerShare><transactionAcquiredDisposedCode><value>A</value></transactionAcquiredDisposedCode></transactionAmounts><exerciseDate><footnoteId id="F2"/></exerciseDate><expirationDate><footnoteId id="F2"/></expirationDate><underlyingSecurity><underlyingSecurityTitle><value>Common Stock</value></underlyingSecurityTitle><underlyingSecurityShares><value>5</value></underlyingSecurityShares></underlyingSecurity><postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>1285</value></sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction></postTransactionAmounts><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>D</value></directOrIndirectOwnership></ownershipNature></derivativeTransaction><derivativeHolding><securityTitle><value>Stock Option</value></securityTitle><conversionOrExercisePrice><value>48.625</value></conversionOrExercisePrice><exerciseDate><value>1999-04-28</value></exerciseDate><expirationDate><value>2009-04-27</value></expirationDate><underlyingSecurity><underlyingSecuri
tyTitle><value>Common Stock</value></underlyingSecurityTitle><underlyingSecurityShares><value>1860</value></underlyingSecurityShares></underlyingSecurity><postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>1860</value></sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction></postTransactionAmounts><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>D</value></directOrIndirectOwnership></ownershipNature></derivativeHolding><derivativeHolding><securityTitle><value>Stock Option</value></securityTitle><conversionOrExercisePrice><value>43.50</value></conversionOrExercisePrice><exerciseDate><value>2000-04-26</value></exerciseDate><expirationDate><value>2010-04-25</value></expirationDate><underlyingSecurity><underlyingSecurityTitle><value>Common Stock</value></underlyingSecurityTitle><underlyingSecurityShares><value>2070</value></underlyingSecurityShares></underlyingSecurity><postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>2070</value></sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction></postTransactionAmounts><ownershipNature><
directOrIndirectOwnership><value>D</value></directOrIndirectOwnership></ownershipNature></derivativeHolding><derivativeHolding><securityTitle><value>Stock Option</value></securityTitle><conversionOrExercisePrice><value>37.50</value></conversionOrExercisePrice><exerciseDate><value>2001-04-25</value></exerciseDate><expirationDate><value>2011-04-24</value></expirationDate><underlyingSecurity><underlyingSecurityTitle><value>Common Stock</value></underlyingSecurityTitle><underlyingSecurityShares><value>2400</value></underlyingSecurityShares></underlyingSecurity><postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>2400</value></sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction></postTransactionAmounts><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>D</value></directOrIndirectOwnership></ownershipNature></derivativeHolding><derivativeHolding><securityTitle><value>Stock Option</value></securityTitle><conversionOrExercisePrice><value>54.61</value></conversionOrExercisePrice><exerciseDate><value>2002-04-24</value></exerci
seDate><expirationDate><value>2012-04-23</value></expirationDate><underlyingSecurity><underlyingSecurityTitle><value>Common Stock</value></underlyingSecurityTitle><underlyingSecurityShares><value>1650</value></underlyingSecurityShares></underlyingSecurity><postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>1650</value></sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction></postTransactionAmounts><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>D</value></directOrIndirectOwnership></ownershipNature></derivativeHolding><derivativeHolding><securityTitle><value>Stock Option</value></securityTitle><conversionOrExercisePrice><value>45.50</value></conversionOrExercisePrice><exerciseDate><value>2003-04-30</value></exerciseDate><expirationDate><value>2013-04-29</value></expirationDate><underlyingSecurity><underlyingSecurityTitle><value>Common Stock</value></underlyingSecurityTitle><underlyingSecurityShares><value>1980</value></underlyingSecurityShares></underlyingSecurity><postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransa
ction><value>1980</value></sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction></postTransactionAmounts><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>D</value></directOrIndirectOwnership></ownershipNature></derivativeHolding></derivativeTable><footnotes><footnote id="F1">1-for-1</footnote><footnote id="F2">The Stock Units are expected to settle in cash following termination of service as a director.</footnote></footnotes><ownerSignature><signatureName>K. S. Kirsner, as attorney-in-fact</signatureName><signatureDate>2003-09-02</signatureDate></ownerSignature></ownershipDocument>



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