UNITED STATES
                       SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

                             WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549

                                    FORM 8-K

                                 CURRENT REPORT
                      PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d)OF THE
                         SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
                                    10/12/04
                Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported)

                               SAFECO CORPORATION
               (Exact name of registrant as specified in Charter)

           WASHINGTON                1-6563                91-0742146
          (State or other          (Commission            (IRS Employer
           jurisdiction of          File Number)          Identification No.)
           incorporation)

              Safeco Plaza, Seattle, Washington               98185
         (Address of principal executive officers)        (Zip Code)

                                 (206) 545-5000
              (Registrant's telephone number, including area code)


Check  the  appropriate  box  below  if the  Form  8-K  filing  is  intended  to
simultaneously  satisfy the filing obligation to the registrant under any of the
following provisions:


|_|  Written  communications  pursuant to Rule 425 under the  Securities Act (17
     CFR 230.425)

|_|  Soliciting  material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR
     240.14a-12)

|_|  Pre-commencement   communications  pursuant  to  Rule  14d-2(b)  under  the
     Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b))

|_|  Pre-commencement   communications  pursuant  to  Rule  13e-4(c)  under  the
     Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4(c))

Item 8.01. Other Events

On October 12, 2004, Safeco Corporation issued a press release, filed as Exhibit
99.1, announcing third-quarter catastrophe loss estimates.

Item 9.01. Financial Statements and Exhibits

Exhibit 99.1 - Press release "Safeco Estimates Third-Quarter Catastrophe Losses"
dated October 12, 2004.


                                    Signature

Pursuant  to the  requirements  of the  Securities  Exchange  Act of  1934,  the
registrant  has duly  caused  this  report  to be  signed  on its  behalf by the
undersigned thereunto duly authorized.


                                        SAFECO CORPORATION
                                        ---------------------------------------
                                        Registrant

Date:  October 13, 2004
                                       /s/ Maurice S. Hebert
                                       ----------------------------------------
                                       Maurice S. Hebert
                                       Vice President and Corporate Controller