-----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,
 KSx7HOsceLsjpy5XT/RM3CqmPhWHz9o3yIVaLprAoKe/iGVQfnasw0pXnUSqwrEK
 l1PNI8YSOV/FPdUr0yqhCQ==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001218024-04-000007.txt : 20040318
<SEC-HEADER>0001218024-04-000007.hdr.sgml : 20040318
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20040318133229
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001218024-04-000007
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20040317
FILED AS OF DATE:		20040318

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			OPPENHEIMER HOLDINGS INC
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0000791963
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	SECURITY BROKERS, DEALERS & FLOTATION COMPANIES [6211]
		IRS NUMBER:				980080034
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			A6
		FISCAL YEAR END:			1231

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		SUITE 1110, P.O. BOX 2015
		STREET 2:		20 EGLINTON AVE. WEST
		CITY:			TORONTO
		STATE:			A6
		ZIP:			M4R 1K8
		BUSINESS PHONE:		(416)322-1515

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		PO BOX 2015 SUITE 1110
		STREET 2:		20 EGLINTON AVENUE WEST
		CITY:			TORONTO
		STATE:			A6
		ZIP:			M4R 1K8

	FORMER COMPANY:	
		FORMER CONFORMED NAME:	FAHNESTOCK VINER HOLDINGS INC
		DATE OF NAME CHANGE:	19950725

	FORMER COMPANY:	
		FORMER CONFORMED NAME:	VINER E A HOLDINGS LTD
		DATE OF NAME CHANGE:	19880622

	FORMER COMPANY:	
		FORMER CONFORMED NAME:	GOLDALE INVESTMENTS LTD
		DATE OF NAME CHANGE:	19861030

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			ROBERTS ELAINE K
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001218024

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	001-12043
		FILM NUMBER:		04677371

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		C/O OPPENHEIMER HOLDINGS INC
		STREET 2:		BOX 2015, 20 EGLINTON AVE. W.
		CITY:			TORONTO ONTARIO
		STATE:			A6
		ZIP:			M4R 1K8
		BUSINESS PHONE:		4163221515

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		186 FOREST HILL RD
		CITY:			TORONTO ONTARIO
		STATE:			A6
		ZIP:			M5P 2N4
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>primary_doc.xml
<DESCRIPTION>PRIMARY DOCUMENT
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0201</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2004-03-17</periodOfReport>

    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000791963</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>OPPENHEIMER HOLDINGS INC</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>OPY</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001218024</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>ROBERTS ELAINE K</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>186 FOREST HILL RD</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>TORONTO ONTARIO</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>A6</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>M5P 2N4</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription>ONTARIO, CANADA</rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>1</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>1</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
            <officerTitle>PRESIDENT &amp; TREASURER</officerTitle>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <derivativeTable>
        <derivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>OPTIONS ON CLASS A NON-VOTING SHARES</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <value>33</value>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2004-03-17</value>
                <footnoteId id="F1"/>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>M</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>75000</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>33</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <exerciseDate>
                <value>2008-08-25</value>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <value>2009-02-25</value>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>CLASS A NON-VOTING SHARES</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>75000</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>85000</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeTransaction>
    </derivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">OPTIONS WERE GRANTED ON FEBRUARY 26, 2004, SUBJECT TO SHAREHOLDER APPROVAL (WHICH WILL BE SOUGHT ON MAY 17, 2004) AND TORONTO STOCK EXCHANGE APPROVAL, WHICH WAS OBTAINED ON MARCH 17, 2004</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>E.K. ROBERTS</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2004-03-17</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>

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