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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,
 DWSxuoSmzjPlTHtAxKJIoEqvm2LYw49sIEfjhJeTcKNP3kr+ewdQNpaAVwiswlWt
 8KG/Q4+Cc4T6GW++7wMcBQ==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001245031-03-000046.txt : 20030826
<SEC-HEADER>0001245031-03-000046.hdr.sgml : 20030826
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20030826122227
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001245031-03-000046
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20030822
FILED AS OF DATE:		20030826

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			SNAP ON INC
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0000091440
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	CUTLERY, HANDTOOLS & GENERAL HARDWARE [3420]
		IRS NUMBER:				390622040
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			DE
		FISCAL YEAR END:			1231

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		10801 CORPORATE DRIVE
		CITY:			KENOSHA
		STATE:			WI
		ZIP:			53141-1430
		BUSINESS PHONE:		4146565200

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		10801 CORPORATE DRIVE
		CITY:			KENOSHA
		STATE:			WI
		ZIP:			53141

	FORMER COMPANY:	
		FORMER CONFORMED NAME:	SNAP ON TOOLS CORP
		DATE OF NAME CHANGE:	19920703

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			METZGER BLAINE A
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001245033

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	001-07724
		FILM NUMBER:		03865925

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		10801 CORPORATE DRIVE
		CITY:			PLEANSANT PRAIRIE
		STATE:			WI
		ZIP:			53156
		BUSINESS PHONE:		2626565200

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		10801 CORPORATE DRIVE
		CITY:			PLEASANT PRAIRIE
		STATE:			WI
		ZIP:			53156
</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>2003-08-22</periodOfReport>
    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000091440</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>SNAP ON INC</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>SNA</issuerTradingSymbol></issuer><reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001245033</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>METZGER BLAINE A</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>10801 CORPORATE DRIVE</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>PLEASANT PRAIRIE</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>WI</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>53158</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
            <reportingOwnerRelationship>
<isDirector>0</isDirector><isOfficer>1</isOfficer><isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner><isOther>0</isOther><officerTitle>Vice President and Controller</officerTitle></reportingOwnerRelationship></reportingOwner><nonDerivativeTable><nonDerivativeHolding><securityTitle><value>Common Stock</value></securityTitle><postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>194.589</value></sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction></postTransactionAmounts><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>D</value></directOrIndirectOwnership><natureOfOwnership><value/></natureOfOwnership></ownershipNature></nonDerivativeHolding><nonDerivativeHolding><securityTitle><value>Common Stock</value></securityTitle><postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>278.516</value></sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction></postTransactionAmounts><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>I</value></directOrIndirectOwnership><natureOfOwnership><value>401(k) Plan</value></natureOfOwnership></ownershipNature></nonD
erivativeHolding></nonDerivativeTable><derivativeTable><derivativeHolding><securityTitle><value>Stock Option (Right to Buy)</value></securityTitle><conversionOrExercisePrice><value>29.16</value></conversionOrExercisePrice><exerciseDate><value>2003-05-29</value></exerciseDate><expirationDate><value>2011-05-29</value></expirationDate><underlyingSecurity><underlyingSecurityTitle><value>Common Stock</value></underlyingSecurityTitle><underlyingSecurityShares><value>10000</value></underlyingSecurityShares></underlyingSecurity><postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>10000</value></sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction></postTransactionAmounts><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>D</value></directOrIndirectOwnership><natureOfOwnership><value/></natureOfOwnership></ownershipNature></derivativeHolding><derivativeHolding><securityTitle><value>Stock Option (Right to Buy)</value></securityTitle><conversionOrExercisePrice><value>32.22</value></conversionOrExercisePrice><exerciseDate><footno
teId id="F1"/></exerciseDate><expirationDate><value>2012-01-25</value></expirationDate><underlyingSecurity><underlyingSecurityTitle><value>Common Stock</value></underlyingSecurityTitle><underlyingSecurityShares><value>10000</value></underlyingSecurityShares></underlyingSecurity><postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>10000</value></sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction></postTransactionAmounts><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>D</value></directOrIndirectOwnership><natureOfOwnership><value/></natureOfOwnership></ownershipNature></derivativeHolding><derivativeHolding><securityTitle><value>Stock Option (Right to Buy)</value></securityTitle><conversionOrExercisePrice><value>25.11</value></conversionOrExercisePrice><exerciseDate><footnoteId id="F2"/></exerciseDate><expirationDate><value>2013-01-24</value></expirationDate><underlyingSecurity><underlyingSecurityTitle><value>Common Stock</value></underlyingSecurityTitle><underlyingSecurityShares><value>7000</value></underlyingSecur
ityShares></underlyingSecurity><postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>7000</value></sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction></postTransactionAmounts><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>D</value></directOrIndirectOwnership><natureOfOwnership><value/></natureOfOwnership></ownershipNature></derivativeHolding><derivativeTransaction><securityTitle><value>Deferred Stock Units</value></securityTitle><conversionOrExercisePrice><value>0</value></conversionOrExercisePrice><transactionDate><value>2003-08-22</value></transactionDate><transactionCoding><transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType><transactionCode>A</transactionCode><equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved><footnoteId id="F3"/></transactionCoding><transactionAmounts><transactionShares><value>23.404</value></transactionShares><transactionPricePerShare><value>29.91</value></transactionPricePerShare><transactionAcquiredDisposedCode><value>A</value></transactionAcquiredDisposedCode></transactionAmounts><exerciseDate><footnoteId
 id="F4"/></exerciseDate><expirationDate><footnoteId id="F4"/></expirationDate><underlyingSecurity><underlyingSecurityTitle><value>Common Stock</value></underlyingSecurityTitle><underlyingSecurityShares><value>23.404</value></underlyingSecurityShares></underlyingSecurity><postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>575.619</value></sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction></postTransactionAmounts><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>D</value></directOrIndirectOwnership><natureOfOwnership><value/></natureOfOwnership></ownershipNature></derivativeTransaction><derivativeHolding><securityTitle><value>Deferred Stock Units</value></securityTitle><conversionOrExercisePrice><value>0</value></conversionOrExercisePrice><exerciseDate><footnoteId id="F5"/></exerciseDate><expirationDate><footnoteId id="F5"/></expirationDate><underlyingSecurity><underlyingSecurityTitle><value>Common Stock</value></underlyingSecurityTitle><underlyingSecurityShares><value>8000</value></underlyingSecurityShares></unde
rlyingSecurity><postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>8000</value></sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction></postTransactionAmounts><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>D</value></directOrIndirectOwnership><natureOfOwnership><value/></natureOfOwnership></ownershipNature></derivativeHolding><derivativeHolding><securityTitle><value>Restricted Stock</value></securityTitle><conversionOrExercisePrice><value>0</value></conversionOrExercisePrice><exerciseDate><footnoteId id="F6"/></exerciseDate><expirationDate><footnoteId id="F6"/></expirationDate><underlyingSecurity><underlyingSecurityTitle><value>Common Stock</value></underlyingSecurityTitle><underlyingSecurityShares><value>4000</value></underlyingSecurityShares></underlyingSecurity><postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>4000</value></sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction></postTransactionAmounts><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>D</value></directOrIndirectOwnership><natureOfOwnership><value/></n
atureOfOwnership></ownershipNature></derivativeHolding></derivativeTable><footnotes><footnote id="F1">One half of option vested on 1/25/2003 and the remainder vests on 1/25/2004.</footnote><footnote id="F2">One half of option vests on 1/24/2004 and the remainder vests on 1/24/2005.</footnote><footnote id="F3">Deferred stock units acquired under the Corporation's Deferred Compensation Plan.</footnote><footnote id="F4">Payment will begin within 30 days first beginning after the earliest of the date specified in advance of the deferral by the reporting person, death, disability, retirement or termination of employment.</footnote><footnote id="F5">The units vest on the achievement of certain company initiatives over the 2003-2005 period.  Payment will begin within 30 days first beginning after the earliest of the date specified in advance of the deferral by the reporting person, death, disability, retirement, or termination of employment.</footnote><footnote id="F6">The units vest on the achievement of certain c
ompany initiatives over the 2002-2003 period.  </footnote></footnotes><remarks/><ownerSignature><signatureName>Jason D. Bartel under Power of Attorney for Blaine A. Metzger</signatureName><signatureDate>2003-08-26</signatureDate></ownerSignature></ownershipDocument>

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