-----BEGIN PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----
Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
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<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001017465-09-000001.txt : 20090211
<SEC-HEADER>0001017465-09-000001.hdr.sgml : 20090211
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20090211112034
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001017465-09-000001
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20090210
FILED AS OF DATE:		20090211
DATE AS OF CHANGE:		20090211

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			GAZMARIAN MICHAEL C
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001017465

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	001-09929
		FILM NUMBER:		09588193

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		BUSINESS PHONE:		9107862141

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		1373 BOGGS DR
		CITY:			MT AIRY
		STATE:			NC
		ZIP:			27030

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			INSTEEL INDUSTRIES INC
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0000764401
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	STEEL WORKS, BLAST FURNACES & ROLLING & FINISHING MILLS [3310]
		IRS NUMBER:				560674867
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			NC
		FISCAL YEAR END:			0930

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		1373 BOGGS DR
		CITY:			MOUNT AIRY
		STATE:			NC
		ZIP:			27030
		BUSINESS PHONE:		9107862141

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		1373 BOGGS DRIVE
		CITY:			MOUNT AIRY
		STATE:			NC
		ZIP:			27030

	FORMER COMPANY:	
		FORMER CONFORMED NAME:	EXPOSAIC INDUSTRIES INC
		DATE OF NAME CHANGE:	19880511
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>edgardoc.xml
<DESCRIPTION>PRIMARY DOCUMENT
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0303</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2009-02-10</periodOfReport>

    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000764401</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>INSTEEL INDUSTRIES INC</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>IIIN</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001017465</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>GAZMARIAN MICHAEL C</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>1373 BOGGS DRIVE</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>MOUNT AIRY</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>NC</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>27030</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>0</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>1</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
            <officerTitle>Treasurer</officerTitle>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2008-11-12</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>5</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>G</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>3600</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>0</value>
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                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>D</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>117801</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
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        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
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            <transactionDate>
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                <transactionCode>G</transactionCode>
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            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
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                <transactionPricePerShare>
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            <transactionCoding>
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            <transactionAmounts>
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                <transactionPricePerShare>
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            <ownershipNature>
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                <natureOfOwnership>
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        </nonDerivativeHolding>
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    <derivativeTable>
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            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>6342</value>
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                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
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            <expirationDate>
                <value>2019-02-10</value>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Common Stock</value>
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                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>6342</value>
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            </underlyingSecurity>
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                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
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            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeTransaction>
        <derivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Non-Qualified Stock Option (right to buy)</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <value>7.55</value>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2009-02-10</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>5</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>A</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>8604</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>0</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <exerciseDate>
                <footnoteId id="F2"/>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <value>2019-02-10</value>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Common Stock</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>8604</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>8604</value>
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            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
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        </derivativeTransaction>
        <derivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Incentive Stock Option (right to buy)</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <value>6.89</value>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <exerciseDate>
                <value>2006-07-26</value>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <value>2015-07-26</value>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Common Stock</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>3430</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>3430</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
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        </derivativeHolding>
        <derivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Incentive Stock Option (right to buy)</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <value>9.12</value>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <exerciseDate>
                <footnoteId id="F2"/>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <value>2015-03-04</value>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Common Stock</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>5301</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
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            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
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                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
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            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
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        </derivativeHolding>
        <derivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Incentive Stock Option (right to buy)</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <value>11.15</value>
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            <exerciseDate>
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            <expirationDate>
                <value>2018-02-19</value>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
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                <underlyingSecurityShares>
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            <postTransactionAmounts>
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            <exerciseDate>
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            <underlyingSecurity>
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                <underlyingSecurityShares>
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            <securityTitle>
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            <expirationDate>
                <value>2017-08-13</value>
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                    <value>2242</value>
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                    <value>D</value>
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                <value>Non-Qualified Stock Option (right to buy)</value>
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            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <value>16.69</value>
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            <exerciseDate>
                <footnoteId id="F2"/>
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            <expirationDate>
                <value>2018-08-19</value>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Common Stock</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>4876</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
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                    <value>4876</value>
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                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
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        <derivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Non-Qualified Stock Option (right to buy)</value>
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                <underlyingSecurityShares>
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            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
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        <derivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Non-Qualified Stock Option (right to buy)</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <value>20.27</value>
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            <exerciseDate>
                <footnoteId id="F2"/>
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            <expirationDate>
                <value>2017-08-13</value>
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            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Common Stock</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>3202</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
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            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>3202</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
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            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeHolding>
    </derivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">Restricted Stock Units</footnote>
        <footnote id="F2">options vest 1/3 annually beginning 1 year from grant date</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>By: James F. Petelle  For: Michael C. Gazmarian</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2009-02-11</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
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