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Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
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 TWSM7vrzLADbmYQaionwg5sDW3P6oaM5D3tdezXMm7z1T+B+twIDAQAB
MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
 H49bRxzZx3O6W/5dhRc3CV4Ub6jmKvccKsE018JKv4RESQN5VTXvZN8IIvhDhqiS
 kndvyFm2ksWWt6h7mnTlwA==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001179110-03-009149.txt : 20031023
<SEC-HEADER>0001179110-03-009149.hdr.sgml : 20031023
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20031023181238
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001179110-03-009149
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20031021
FILED AS OF DATE:		20031023

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			KELLER RALPH
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001201646

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	001-11288
		FILM NUMBER:		03954926

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		ACTUANT CORP
		STREET 2:		6100 NORTH BAKER RD
		CITY:			MILWAUKEE
		STATE:			WI
		ZIP:			53209

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			ACTUANT CORP
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0000006955
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	MISC INDUSTRIAL & COMMERCIAL MACHINERY & EQUIPMENT [3590]
		IRS NUMBER:				390168610
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			WI
		FISCAL YEAR END:			0831

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		6101 N. BAKER RD.
		CITY:			MILWAUKEE
		STATE:			WI
		ZIP:			53209
		BUSINESS PHONE:		4143524160

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		6101 N BAKER RD.
		CITY:			MILWAUKEE
		STATE:			WI
		ZIP:			53209

	FORMER COMPANY:	
		FORMER CONFORMED NAME:	APPLIED POWER INC
		DATE OF NAME CHANGE:	19920703

	FORMER COMPANY:	
		FORMER CONFORMED NAME:	APPLIED POWER INDUSTRIES INC
		DATE OF NAME CHANGE:	19730123
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>edgar.xml
<DESCRIPTION>FORM 4 -
<TEXT>
<XML>
<ownershipDocument>
    <schemaVersion>X0201</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>
<periodOfReport>2003-10-21</periodOfReport>
<notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>
    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000006955</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>ACTUANT CORP</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>ATU</issuerTradingSymbol>
</issuer>
<reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001201646</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>KELLER RALPH</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>6100 NORTH BAKER ROAD</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>MILWAUKEE</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>WI</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>53209</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
            <reportingOwnerRelationship>
<isDirector>0</isDirector>
<isOfficer>1</isOfficer>
<isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
<isOther>0</isOther>
<officerTitle>Vice President - Operations</officerTitle>
<otherText></otherText>
</reportingOwnerRelationship>
</reportingOwner>
<nonDerivativeTable><nonDerivativeHolding><securityTitle><value>Class A Common Stock</value>
</securityTitle>
<postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>2382</value>
<footnoteId id="F1"></footnoteId>
</sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
</postTransactionAmounts>
<ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>I</value>
</directOrIndirectOwnership>
<natureOfOwnership><value>by 401(k)</value>
<footnoteId id="F2"></footnoteId>
</natureOfOwnership>
</ownershipNature>
</nonDerivativeHolding>
<nonDerivativeHolding><securityTitle><value>Class A Common Stock</value>
</securityTitle>
<postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>60</value>
<footnoteId id="F1"></footnoteId>
</sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
</postTransactionAmounts>
<ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>I</value>
</directOrIndirectOwnership>
<natureOfOwnership><value>By ESPP</value>
</natureOfOwnership>
</ownershipNature>
</nonDerivativeHolding>
<nonDerivativeHolding><securityTitle><value>Class A Common Stock</value>
</securityTitle>
<postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>73560</value>
<footnoteId id="F1"></footnoteId>
</sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
</postTransactionAmounts>
<ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>D</value>
</directOrIndirectOwnership>
</ownershipNature>
</nonDerivativeHolding>
</nonDerivativeTable>
<derivativeTable><derivativeTransaction><securityTitle><value>Employee Stock Option (right to buy)</value>
<footnoteId id="F3"></footnoteId>
</securityTitle>
<conversionOrExercisePrice><value>31.8125</value>
</conversionOrExercisePrice>
<transactionDate><value>2003-10-21</value>
</transactionDate>
<transactionCoding><transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
<transactionCode>A</transactionCode>
<equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
</transactionCoding>
<transactionAmounts><transactionShares><value>12000</value>
</transactionShares>
<transactionPricePerShare><value>31.8125</value>
</transactionPricePerShare>
<transactionAcquiredDisposedCode><value>A</value>
</transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
</transactionAmounts>
<exerciseDate><footnoteId id="F4"></footnoteId>
</exerciseDate>
<expirationDate><value>2013-10-21</value>
</expirationDate>
<underlyingSecurity><underlyingSecurityTitle><value>Class A Common Stock</value>
</underlyingSecurityTitle>
<underlyingSecurityShares><value>12000</value>
</underlyingSecurityShares>
</underlyingSecurity>
<postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>0</value>
</sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
</postTransactionAmounts>
<ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>D</value>
</directOrIndirectOwnership>
</ownershipNature>
</derivativeTransaction>
</derivativeTable>
<footnotes><footnote id="F1">Revised to reflect 2 for 1 stock split on 10/21/2003.</footnote>
<footnote id="F2">Best estimate of shares held pursuant to the Actuant 401(k) Plan.</footnote>
<footnote id="F3">Option granted under the Actuant Corporation 2002 Stock Plan.</footnote>
<footnote id="F4">Fifty percent of the option becomes exercisable on 10/21/2005 and the balance on 10/21/2008.</footnote>
</footnotes>
<ownerSignature><signatureName>Kathryn M. Moore, As Attorney-In-Fact</signatureName>
<signatureDate>2003-10-23</signatureDate>
</ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>

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