-----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,
 T7Psz5sakBU6CwE2nA0lcgbDXwvchsdlZD7uq6+SjK/C0aDOKJxnfMV8Y8pwupFs
 uanI4tVJaWUUwJVTQUWXIA==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001213172-04-000002.txt : 20040206
<SEC-HEADER>0001213172-04-000002.hdr.sgml : 20040206
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20040206142424
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001213172-04-000002
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20040205
FILED AS OF DATE:		20040206

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			BALDWIN & LYONS INC
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0000009346
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	FIRE, MARINE & CASUALTY INSURANCE [6331]
		IRS NUMBER:				350160330
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			IN
		FISCAL YEAR END:			1231

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		1099 N MERIDIAN ST
		STREET 2:		STE 700
		CITY:			INDIANAPOLIS
		STATE:			IN
		ZIP:			46204
		BUSINESS PHONE:		3176369800

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		1099 NORTH MERIDIAN ST
		STREET 2:		STE 700
		CITY:			INDIANAPOLIS
		STATE:			IN
		ZIP:			46204

	FORMER COMPANY:	
		FORMER CONFORMED NAME:	BALDWIN H C AGENCY INC
		DATE OF NAME CHANGE:	19720309

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			PIGOTT JOHN A
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001213172

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	000-05534
		FILM NUMBER:		04573460

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		355 BIRCH STREET
		CITY:			WINNETKA
		STATE:			IL
		ZIP:			60093
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>edgar.xml
<DESCRIPTION>PRIMARY DOCUMENT
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0201</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2004-02-05</periodOfReport>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000009346</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>BALDWIN &amp; LYONS INC</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>BWINA / B</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001213172</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>PIGOTT JOHN A</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>355 BIRCH STREET</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>WINNETKA</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>IL</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>60093</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>1</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
        <nonDerivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Class A Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>5063</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value></value>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeHolding>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Class B Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2004-02-05</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>M</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>3146</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>27.78</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>32571</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value></value>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <derivativeTable>
        <derivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Right to buy (option)</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <value>.80</value>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2004-02-05</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>X</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>3146</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>27.78</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>D</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <exerciseDate>
                <value>1999-04-01</value>
                <footnoteId id="F1"/>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <value>2013-01-03</value>
                <footnoteId id="F1"/>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Class B  Common</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>3146</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>2416</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value></value>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeTransaction>
        <derivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Right to buy (option)</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <value>1.00</value>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <exerciseDate>
                <value>2004-04-01</value>
                <footnoteId id="F2"/>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <value>2014-01-03</value>
                <footnoteId id="F2"/>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Class B  Common</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>796</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>796</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value></value>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeHolding>
    </derivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">Options become exercisable one year from the date of issuance and expire ten years and one day from the date of issuance.  Options previoulsy reported on Forms 4 and 5 have expiration dates ranging from April 2, 2008 through the latest date shown in column 6.  The price paid for the options was equal to and in lieu of directors fees ranging from $3,000 to $4,500 per quarter.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F2">Options become exercisable one year from the date of issuance and expire ten years and one day from the date of issuance.  Options previoulsy reported on Forms 4 and 5 have expiration dates ranging from April 2, 2013 through the latest date shown in column 6.  The price paid for the options was equal to and in lieu of directors fees ranging from $3,000 to $4,500 per quarter.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <remarks></remarks>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>G. Patrick Corydon on behalf of John A. Pigott</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2004-02-06</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>

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