Debt (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, except Share data, unless otherwise specified	6 Months Ended							3 Months Ended								6 Months Ended		6 Months Ended		6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2013	Jun. 30, 2012	Dec. 31, 2012	Jun. 30, 2013 Convertible Debt [Member] 3.375% Convertible Notes [Member]	Dec. 31, 2012 Convertible Debt [Member] 3.375% Convertible Notes [Member]	Jun. 30, 2013 Revolving Credit Agreement [Member]	Dec. 31, 2012 Revolving Credit Agreement [Member]	Jun. 30, 2013 Barnes Distribution North America Proceeds [Member]	Jun. 30, 2013 Share Repurchase [Member]	Jun. 30, 2013 Lines of Credit and Overdrafts [Member]	Dec. 31, 2012 Lines of Credit and Overdrafts [Member]	Jun. 30, 2013 Foreign Bank Borrowings [Member]	Dec. 31, 2012 Foreign Bank Borrowings [Member]	Jun. 30, 2013 Other Debt Obligations [Member]	Dec. 31, 2012 Other Debt Obligations [Member]	Jun. 30, 2013 Lines of Credit [Member]	Dec. 31, 2012 Lines of Credit [Member]	Jun. 30, 2013 Bank Overdrafts [Member]	Dec. 31, 2012 Bank Overdrafts [Member]	Jun. 30, 2013 Minimum [Member]	Jun. 30, 2013 Minimum [Member] Revolving Credit Agreement [Member]	Jun. 30, 2013 Maximum [Member]	Jun. 30, 2013 Maximum [Member] Revolving Credit Agreement [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Carrying amount of debt				$ 55,636	$ 55,636	$ 177,100	$ 589,200					$ 675	$ 945	$ 469	$ 574
Fair value of debt	257,230		662,050	63,197	57,977	180,437	599,172			12,451	3,380	676	947	469	574
Unamortized debt discount				(1,949)	(3,122)
Borrowings under lines of credit and overdrafts	12,899		3,795							12,451	3,380					11,700	2,800	751	580
Total debt, net of unamortized discounts	244,382		646,613
Less current maturities	(67,140)		(4,494)
Long-term debt	177,242		642,119
Convertible notes stated interest rate				3.375%
Convertible notes balance				53,687
Line of credit facility, maximum borrowing capacity						750,000										15,000
Debt instrument basis spread on LIBOR																					1.10%		1.70%
Proceeds from (payments for) the sale of businesses, net	540,435	(318)
Payments on long-term debt	478,005	17,770						480,000
Shares repurchased	$ 61,432	$ 19,037						$ 48,575
Shares repurchased (in shares)									1,657,495
Line of credit, interest rate at period end																2.16%	2.16%
Repayment period																7 days		2 days
Maturity of bank acceptances																				3 months		6 months