-----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,
 GdvpvI/fkztuVSbbZ1wShGws4hKssWrSA+XWYub766QdkcM8yb4YXgRm6vHSHeQ6
 W15czcriMTIWa1doku8ZcA==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001179110-09-005520.txt : 20090323
<SEC-HEADER>0001179110-09-005520.hdr.sgml : 20090323
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20090323184815
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001179110-09-005520
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20090323
FILED AS OF DATE:		20090323
DATE AS OF CHANGE:		20090323

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			HALL WILLIAM K
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001181855

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	001-11288
		FILM NUMBER:		09699839

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		13000 WEST SILVER SPRING ROAD
		CITY:			BUTLER
		STATE:			WI
		ZIP:			53201

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:		ATTN:  CHAD DELUKA
		STREET 2:		13000 WEST SILVER SPRING DRIVE
		CITY:			BUTLER
		STATE:			WI
		ZIP:			53007
		BUSINESS PHONE:		262-373-7438

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		ATTN:  CHAD DELUKA
		STREET 2:		13000 WEST SILVER SPRING DRIVE
		CITY:			BUTLER
		STATE:			WI
		ZIP:			53007

	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>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0303</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2009-03-23</periodOfReport>

    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000006955</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>ACTUANT CORP</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>ATU</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001181855</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>HALL WILLIAM K</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>13000 WEST SILVER SPRING DRIVE</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>BUTLER</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>WI</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>53007</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>1</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
            <officerTitle></officerTitle>
            <otherText></otherText>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Class A Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2009-03-23</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>P</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>10000</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>8.2283</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>20000</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <derivativeTable></derivativeTable>

    <footnotes></footnotes>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>/s/ Eric Orsic, as Attorney-in-Fact</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2009-03-23</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
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