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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,
 FanSyvatC+igDjwfpIBzMNj0PrAgGiMR7RZmykqrDexWVId9gYKjubAmccvN4bOZ
 X1ljnIV+Lc6lpcWyZkuz0g==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001181431-03-025428.txt : 20031002
<SEC-HEADER>0001181431-03-025428.hdr.sgml : 20031002
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20031002163945
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001181431-03-025428
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20031002
FILED AS OF DATE:		20031002

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			GRAINGER DAVID W
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001023261

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	001-05684
		FILM NUMBER:		03924845

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		100 GRAINGER PARKWAY
		STREET 2:		100 GRAINGER PARKWAY
		CITY:			LAKE FOREST
		STATE:			IL
		ZIP:			60045

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		100 GRAINGER PARKWAY
		STREET 2:		100 GRAINGER PARKWAY
		CITY:			LAKE FOREST
		STATE:			IL
		ZIP:			60045

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			GRAINGER W W INC
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0000277135
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	WHOLESALE-DURABLE GOODS [5000]
		IRS NUMBER:				361150280
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			IL
		FISCAL YEAR END:			1231

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		100 GRAINGER PARKWAY
		CITY:			LAKE FOREST
		STATE:			IL
		ZIP:			60045-5201
		BUSINESS PHONE:		847-535-1000

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		100 GRAINGER PARKWAY
		CITY:			LAKE FOREST
		STATE:			IL
		ZIP:			60045
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>rrd19753.xml
<DESCRIPTION>FORM 4
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?><ownershipDocument>
    <schemaVersion>X0201</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType><periodOfReport>2003-10-02</periodOfReport><notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>
    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000277135</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>GRAINGER W W INC</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>GWW</issuerTradingSymbol></issuer><reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001023261</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>GRAINGER DAVID W</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>100 GRAINGER PARKWAY</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>LAKE FOREST</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>IL</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>60045-5201</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
            <reportingOwnerRelationship>
<isDirector>1</isDirector><isOfficer>0</isOfficer><isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner><isOther>0</isOther></reportingOwnerRelationship></reportingOwner><nonDerivativeTable><nonDerivativeTransaction><securityTitle><value>Common Stock</value></securityTitle><transactionDate><value>2003-10-02</value></transactionDate><transactionCoding><transactionFormType>5</transactionFormType><transactionCode>G</transactionCode><equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved></transactionCoding><transactionAmounts><transactionShares><value>10000</value></transactionShares><transactionPricePerShare><value>0</value><footnoteId id="F1"/></transactionPricePerShare><transactionAcquiredDisposedCode><value>D</value></transactionAcquiredDisposedCode></transactionAmounts><postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>7456792</value></sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction></postTransactionAmounts><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>D</value></directOrIndirectOwnership></ownershipNature></nonDerivativeTransactio
n><nonDerivativeHolding><securityTitle><value>Common Stock</value></securityTitle><postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>724720</value></sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction></postTransactionAmounts><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>I</value></directOrIndirectOwnership><natureOfOwnership><value>See footnote</value><footnoteId id="F2"/></natureOfOwnership></ownershipNature></nonDerivativeHolding><nonDerivativeHolding><securityTitle><value>Common Stock</value></securityTitle><postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>786430</value></sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction></postTransactionAmounts><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>I</value></directOrIndirectOwnership><natureOfOwnership><value>See footnote</value><footnoteId id="F3"/></natureOfOwnership></ownershipNature></nonDerivativeHolding></nonDerivativeTable><footnotes><footnote id="F1">Disposition by gift.</footnote><footnote id="F2">Shares held by trust, of which Mr. Grainger is co-truste
e and income beneficiary.  Mr. Grainger disclaims beneficial ownership as to such shares.</footnote><footnote id="F3">Shares held by trusts, of which Mr. Grainger is co-trustee, FBO Mr. Grainger's wife.  Mr. Grainger disclaims beneficial ownership as to such shares.</footnote></footnotes><ownerSignature><signatureName>K. S. Kirsner, as attorney-in-fact</signatureName><signatureDate>2003-10-02</signatureDate></ownerSignature></ownershipDocument>



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