Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	9 Months Ended		3 Months Ended												9 Months Ended											9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012	Sep. 30, 2013 Trade name [Member]	Dec. 31, 2012 Trade name [Member]	Sep. 30, 2013 Revenue sharing programs (RSPs) [Member]	Dec. 31, 2012 Revenue sharing programs (RSPs) [Member]	Sep. 30, 2013 Customer lists/relationships [Member]	Dec. 31, 2012 Customer lists/relationships [Member]	Sep. 30, 2013 Patents and technology [Member]	Dec. 31, 2012 Patents and technology [Member]	Sep. 30, 2013 Trademarks/trade names [Member]	Dec. 31, 2012 Trademarks/trade names [Member]	Sep. 30, 2013 Other [Member]	Dec. 31, 2012 Other [Member]	Sep. 30, 2013 Minimum [Member] Customer lists/relationships [Member]	Sep. 30, 2013 Minimum [Member] Patents and technology [Member]	Sep. 30, 2013 Minimum [Member] Trademarks/trade names [Member]	Sep. 30, 2013 Maximum [Member] Revenue sharing programs (RSPs) [Member]	Sep. 30, 2013 Maximum [Member] Customer lists/relationships [Member]	Sep. 30, 2013 Maximum [Member] Patents and technology [Member]	Sep. 30, 2013 Maximum [Member] Trademarks/trade names [Member]	Sep. 30, 2013 Maximum [Member] Other [Member]	Dec. 31, 2012 Barnes Distribution North America [Member]	Dec. 31, 2012 Barnes Distribution North America [Member] Customer Lists [Member]	Dec. 31, 2012 Barnes Distribution North America [Member] Trademarks [Member]	Sep. 30, 2013 Aerospace [Member]	Sep. 30, 2013 Industrial [Member]	Sep. 30, 2013 Other [Member]
Goodwill:
Goodwill, beginning of period	$ 579,905																						$ 134,875			$ 30,786	$ 414,244	$ 134,875
Divestiture	(134,704)																									0	0	(134,704)
Purchase accounting adjustment	2,627																									0	2,627	0
Foreign currency translation	5,107																									0	5,278	(171)
Goodwill, end of period	452,935																						134,875			30,786	422,149	0
Goodwill impairment	0
Other Intangible Assets:
Range of life															10 years	7 years	5 years	30 years	15 years	14 years	30 years	15 years
Gross Amount	451,620	463,920			293,700	293,700	91,306	102,806	41,972	41,972	11,950	12,750	12,692	12,692
Accumulated Amortization	(104,908)	(98,547)			(61,965)	(54,638)	(15,575)	(21,727)	(12,274)	(7,758)	(7,393)	(7,497)	(7,701)	(6,927)										(11,387)	(800)
Unamortized intangible asset			10,000	10,000
Foreign currency translation	10,267	8,599
Other intangible assets	471,887	482,519																						11,500	800
Intangible Assets, Future Amortization Expense
Amortization of intangible assets expected in 2013	24,000
Amortization of intangible assets expected in 2014	24,000
Amortization of intangible assets expected in 2015	24,000
Amortization of intangible assets expected in 2016	23,000
Amortization of intangible assets expected in 2017	24,000
Indefinite-lived intangible asset, impairment recognized			$ 0