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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,
 B66FAM8nRbNrGxm6Eoc3ATXusNvkpBayv85BlVVy5xKX2RM2053fyskL0uTRmKMu
 2xfZXin5Qyd/1RDCRw0ftQ==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001179110-03-012079.txt : 20031208
<SEC-HEADER>0001179110-03-012079.hdr.sgml : 20031208
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20031208164317
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001179110-03-012079
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20031205
FILED AS OF DATE:		20031208

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			SOVEY WILLIAM
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001205354

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	001-11288
		FILM NUMBER:		031042901

	BUSINESS 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>2003-12-05</periodOfReport>
<notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>
    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000006955</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>ACTUANT CORP</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>ATU</issuerTradingSymbol>
</issuer>
<reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001205354</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>SOVEY WILLIAM</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>1</isDirector>
<isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
<isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
<isOther>0</isOther>
<officerTitle></officerTitle>
<otherText></otherText>
</reportingOwnerRelationship>
</reportingOwner>
<nonDerivativeTable></nonDerivativeTable>
<derivativeTable><derivativeTransaction><securityTitle><value>Phantom Stock</value>
<footnoteId id="F1"></footnoteId>
</securityTitle>
<conversionOrExercisePrice><value>0</value>
<footnoteId id="F2"></footnoteId>
</conversionOrExercisePrice>
<transactionDate><value>2003-12-05</value>
</transactionDate>
<transactionCoding><transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
<transactionCode>A</transactionCode>
<equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
</transactionCoding>
<transactionAmounts><transactionShares><value>401</value>
</transactionShares>
<transactionPricePerShare><value>31.23</value>
</transactionPricePerShare>
<transactionAcquiredDisposedCode><value>A</value>
</transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
</transactionAmounts>
<exerciseDate><footnoteId id="F1"></footnoteId>
</exerciseDate>
<expirationDate><footnoteId id="F1"></footnoteId>
</expirationDate>
<underlyingSecurity><underlyingSecurityTitle><value>Class A Common Stock</value>
</underlyingSecurityTitle>
<underlyingSecurityShares><value>401</value>
</underlyingSecurityShares>
</underlyingSecurity>
<postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>401</value>
</sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
</postTransactionAmounts>
<ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>D</value>
</directOrIndirectOwnership>
</ownershipNature>
</derivativeTransaction>
</derivativeTable>
<footnotes><footnote id="F1">Pursuant to the Outside Directors' Compensation Plan, the phantom stock units are settled in stock generally following the director's termination of service.</footnote>
<footnote id="F2">The phantom stock is converted 1 for 1 into shares of Class A Common Stock.</footnote>
</footnotes>
<ownerSignature><signatureName>Kathryn M. Moore, as Attorney-in-Fact</signatureName>
<signatureDate>2003-12-05</signatureDate>
</ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>

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