-----BEGIN PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----
Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
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 TWSM7vrzLADbmYQaionwg5sDW3P6oaM5D3tdezXMm7z1T+B+twIDAQAB
MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
 NO8rrMMmD1UfCcj93qXLRV4c5qgGGh0nGCRdhQJCxtsy6e3JL4kMCFkvnBmYNbVt
 QWshMMJWGqe9QBIz6hcV1Q==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0000086115-04-000020.txt : 20040319
<SEC-HEADER>0000086115-04-000020.hdr.sgml : 20040319
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20040319075910
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0000086115-04-000020
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20040318
FILED AS OF DATE:		20040319

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			MACKENZIE GEORGE
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001085657

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	001-05620
		FILM NUMBER:		04678795

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		1313 NORTH MARKET STREET
		CITY:			WILMINGTON
		STATE:			DE
		ZIP:			19894

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		1313 NORTH MARKET STREET
		CITY:			WILMINGTON
		STATE:			DE
		ZIP:			19894

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			SAFEGUARD SCIENTIFICS INC
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0000086115
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	SERVICES-BUSINESS SERVICES, NEC [7389]
		IRS NUMBER:				231609753
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			PA
		FISCAL YEAR END:			1231

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		435 DEVON PARK DR
		STREET 2:		800 THE SAFEGUARD BLDG
		CITY:			WAYNE
		STATE:			PA
		ZIP:			19087
		BUSINESS PHONE:		6102930600

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		435 DEVON PARK DR
		STREET 2:		BLDG 800
		CITY:			WAYNE
		STATE:			PA
		ZIP:			19087

	FORMER COMPANY:	
		FORMER CONFORMED NAME:	SAFEGUARD INDUSTRIES INC
		DATE OF NAME CHANGE:	19810525

	FORMER COMPANY:	
		FORMER CONFORMED NAME:	SAFEGUARD CORP
		DATE OF NAME CHANGE:	19690521
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>edgardoc.xml
<DESCRIPTION>PRIMARY DOCUMENT
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0201</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2004-03-18</periodOfReport>

    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000086115</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>SAFEGUARD SCIENTIFICS INC</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>SFE</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001085657</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>MACKENZIE GEORGE</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>800 THE SAFEGUARD BUILDING</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>435 DEVON PARK DRIVE</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>WAYNE</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>PA</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>19087-1945</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>1</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2004-03-18</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>M</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>3000</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>1.27</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>3000</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <derivativeTable>
        <derivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Non-Qualified Stock Option (right to buy)</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <value>1.27</value>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2004-03-18</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>M</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>3000</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>0</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>D</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <exerciseDate>
                <footnoteId id="F1"/>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <value>2011-02-26</value>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Common Stock</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>3000</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>47000</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeTransaction>
    </derivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">Option vests 25% each year commencing on the first anniversary of the grant date.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>GEORGE MACKENZIE</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2004-03-18</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>

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