-----BEGIN PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----
Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
Originator-Key-Asymmetric:
 MFgwCgYEVQgBAQICAf8DSgAwRwJAW2sNKK9AVtBzYZmr6aGjlWyK3XmZv3dTINen
 TWSM7vrzLADbmYQaionwg5sDW3P6oaM5D3tdezXMm7z1T+B+twIDAQAB
MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
 Ti1bn2o+mw87X8M9/TT6tSKiwxgmZHkIMYZf2bCxCsXx+s47davOvJyXUFgUi0vE
 2++iOpfJqV288/m0jvx3xA==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0000866706-04-000045.txt : 20040406
<SEC-HEADER>0000866706-04-000045.hdr.sgml : 20040406
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20040406171116
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0000866706-04-000045
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20040402
FILED AS OF DATE:		20040406

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			ESCO TECHNOLOGIES INC
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0000866706
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	SEARCH, DETECTION, NAVIGATION, GUIDANCE, AERONAUTICAL SYS [3812]
		IRS NUMBER:				431554045
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			MO
		FISCAL YEAR END:			0930

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		8888 LADUE RD
		STREET 2:		SUITE 200
		CITY:			ST LOUIS
		STATE:			MO
		ZIP:			63124-2090
		BUSINESS PHONE:		3142137200

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		8888 LADUE RD
		STREET 2:		SUITE 200
		CITY:			ST LOUIS
		STATE:			M0
		ZIP:			63124-2090

	FORMER COMPANY:	
		FORMER CONFORMED NAME:	ESCO ELECTRONICS CORP
		DATE OF NAME CHANGE:	19920703

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			RICHEY VICTOR L JR
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001216231

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	001-10596
		FILM NUMBER:		04720854

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		C/O ESCO TECHNOLOGIES
		STREET 2:		8888 LADUE ROAD
		CITY:			ST. LOUIS
		STATE:			MO
		ZIP:			63124
		BUSINESS PHONE:		314 213 7200

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		C/O ESCO TECHNOLOGIES
		STREET 2:		8888 LADUE ROAD
		CITY:			ST. LOUIS
		STATE:			MO
		ZIP:			63124
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>richey404form4_ex.xml
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0201</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2004-04-02</periodOfReport>

    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000866706</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>ESCO TECHNOLOGIES INC</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>ESE</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001216231</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>RICHEY VICTOR L JR</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>C/O ESCO TECHNOLOGIES</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>8888 LADUE ROAD</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>ST. LOUIS</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>MO</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>63124</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>1</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>1</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
            <officerTitle>Chairman &amp; Chief Executive Off</officerTitle>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2004-04-02</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>F</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
                <footnoteId id="F1"/>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>4800</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>45.575</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>D</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>79582</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">Settlement of 10,666 performance-accelerated restricted shares earned under Issuer's 2001 Stock Incentive Plan. Settlement involved payment of 55% stock (5,866 shares) and withholding of 45% cash ($218,760) based on market value of 4,800 shares at $45.575.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>Victor L. Richey, Jr.</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2004-04-06</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>

</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
-----END PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----