-----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,
 KR2h9IrCqU4AGj42rG+AOIVV6VF4CWdLT2KEg2PwcDh58UtN5QVLHUKtMfYPp5tg
 B3RWRB9IR74RvlkN3pmZ5Q==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001179110-04-024223.txt : 20041229
<SEC-HEADER>0001179110-04-024223.hdr.sgml : 20041229
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20041229152916
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001179110-04-024223
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20041229
FILED AS OF DATE:		20041229
DATE AS OF CHANGE:		20041229

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			WHITMAN MARK
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001282709

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	001-11443
		FILM NUMBER:		041230991

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		PO BOX 1637
		CITY:			HOUSTON
		STATE:			TX
		ZIP:			77251-1637

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			STEWART & STEVENSON SERVICES INC
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0000094328
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	ENGINES & TURBINES [3510]
		IRS NUMBER:				741051605
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			TX
		FISCAL YEAR END:			0131

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		2707 N LOOP W
		CITY:			HOUSTON
		STATE:			TX
		ZIP:			77008
		BUSINESS PHONE:		7138687700

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		P O BOX 1637
		CITY:			HOUSTON
		STATE:			TX
		ZIP:			77251-1637
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>edgar.xml
<DESCRIPTION>FORM 4 -
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0202</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2004-12-29</periodOfReport>

    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000094328</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>STEWART &amp; STEVENSON SERVICES INC</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>SVC</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001282709</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>WHITMAN MARK</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>P. O. BOX 1637</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>HOUSTON</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>TX</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>77251-1637</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>0</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>1</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
            <officerTitle>Vice President</officerTitle>
            <otherText></otherText>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>common stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2004-12-29</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <deemedExecutionDate>
                <value>2004-12-29</value>
            </deemedExecutionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>P</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>100</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>19.82</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>100</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <derivativeTable></derivativeTable>

    <footnotes></footnotes>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>Mark Whitman</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2004-12-29</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>

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