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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,
 EE8ojy1hHdVVMzXdBuH2rKjGsy25MUi5EcxWx3yugM+VoF+6Z35wdYNoa1YiuDES
 wohJtz+SIeKUgEK2+qjlVQ==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001245031-03-000081.txt : 20031104
<SEC-HEADER>0001245031-03-000081.hdr.sgml : 20031104
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20031104203952
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001245031-03-000081
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20031031
FILED AS OF DATE:		20031104

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			PTAK FRANK S
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001180975

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	001-07724
		FILM NUMBER:		03977708

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		ILLINOIS TOOL WORKS INC
		STREET 2:		3600 WEST LAKE AVE
		CITY:			GLENVIEW
		STATE:			IL
		ZIP:			60068
		BUSINESS PHONE:		8476574077

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
</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>2003-10-31</periodOfReport>
    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000091440</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>SNAP ON INC</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>SNA</issuerTradingSymbol></issuer><reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001180975</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>PTAK FRANK S</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>ILLINOIS TOOL WORKS INC.</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>3600 WEST LAKE AVENUE</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>GLENVIEW,</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>IL</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>60025</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
            <reportingOwnerRelationship>
<isDirector>1</isDirector><isOfficer>0</isOfficer><isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner><isOther>0</isOther></reportingOwnerRelationship></reportingOwner><derivativeTable><derivativeHolding><securityTitle><value>Stock Option (Right to Buy)</value></securityTitle><conversionOrExercisePrice><value>29.36</value></conversionOrExercisePrice><exerciseDate><value>2001-04-27</value></exerciseDate><expirationDate><value>2011-04-27</value></expirationDate><underlyingSecurity><underlyingSecurityTitle><value>Common Stock</value></underlyingSecurityTitle><underlyingSecurityShares><value>3000</value></underlyingSecurityShares></underlyingSecurity><postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>3000</value></sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction></postTransactionAmounts><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>D</value></directOrIndirectOwnership><natureOfOwnership><value/></natureOfOwnership></ownershipNature></derivativeHolding><derivativeHolding><securityTitle><value>Stock Option (Right to Buy)</va
lue></securityTitle><conversionOrExercisePrice><value>32.08</value></conversionOrExercisePrice><exerciseDate><value>2002-04-25</value></exerciseDate><expirationDate><value>2012-04-25</value></expirationDate><underlyingSecurity><underlyingSecurityTitle><value>Common Stock</value></underlyingSecurityTitle><underlyingSecurityShares><value>3000</value></underlyingSecurityShares></underlyingSecurity><postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>3000</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>28.43</value></conversionOrExercisePrice><exerciseDate><value>2003-04-24</value></exerciseDate><expirationDate><value>2013-04-24</value></expirationDate><underlyingSecurity><underlyingSecurit
yTitle><value>Common Stock</value></underlyingSecurityTitle><underlyingSecurityShares><value>3000</value></underlyingSecurityShares></underlyingSecurity><postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>3000</value></sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction></postTransactionAmounts><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>D</value></directOrIndirectOwnership><natureOfOwnership><value/></natureOfOwnership></ownershipNature></derivativeHolding><derivativeTransaction><securityTitle><value>Deferred Stock Unit</value></securityTitle><conversionOrExercisePrice><value>0</value><footnoteId id="F1"/></conversionOrExercisePrice><transactionDate><value>2003-10-31</value></transactionDate><transactionCoding><transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType><transactionCode>A</transactionCode><equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved><footnoteId id="F2"/></transactionCoding><transactionAmounts><transactionShares><value>22</value></transactionShares><transactionPricePerShare><value>28.32</value></transactionPrice
PerShare><transactionAcquiredDisposedCode><value>A</value></transactionAcquiredDisposedCode></transactionAmounts><exerciseDate><footnoteId id="F3"/></exerciseDate><expirationDate><footnoteId id="F3"/></expirationDate><underlyingSecurity><underlyingSecurityTitle><value>Common Stock</value></underlyingSecurityTitle><underlyingSecurityShares><value>22</value></underlyingSecurityShares></underlyingSecurity><postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>3176.27</value></sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction></postTransactionAmounts><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>D</value></directOrIndirectOwnership><natureOfOwnership><value/></natureOfOwnership></ownershipNature></derivativeTransaction><derivativeTransaction><securityTitle><value>Deferred Stock Unit</value></securityTitle><conversionOrExercisePrice><value>0</value><footnoteId id="F1"/></conversionOrExercisePrice><transactionDate><value>2003-10-31</value></transactionDate><transactionCoding><transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType
><transactionCode>A</transactionCode><equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved><footnoteId id="F2"/></transactionCoding><transactionAmounts><transactionShares><value>230</value></transactionShares><transactionPricePerShare><value>29.34</value></transactionPricePerShare><transactionAcquiredDisposedCode><value>A</value></transactionAcquiredDisposedCode></transactionAmounts><exerciseDate><footnoteId id="F3"/></exerciseDate><expirationDate><footnoteId id="F3"/></expirationDate><underlyingSecurity><underlyingSecurityTitle><value>Common Stock</value></underlyingSecurityTitle><underlyingSecurityShares><value>230</value></underlyingSecurityShares></underlyingSecurity><postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>3433.622</value><footnoteId id="F4"/></sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction></postTransactionAmounts><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>D</value></directOrIndirectOwnership><natureOfOwnership><value/></natureOfOwnership></ownershipNature></derivativeTransaction></derivativeTable>
<footnotes><footnote id="F1">1 for 1.</footnote><footnote id="F2">Payment of fees in stock under the Corporation's Directors' 1993 Fee Plan.</footnote><footnote id="F3">Scheduled for issuance in lump sum after the earliest of a date specified in advance of the deferral by the reporting person, or on death or retirement from the Board.</footnote><footnote id="F4">Includes 27.352 deferred stock units acquired through exempt dividend reinvestments.</footnote></footnotes><remarks/><ownerSignature><signatureName>Jason D. Bartel under Power of Attorney for Frank S. Ptak</signatureName><signatureDate>2003-11-04</signatureDate></ownerSignature></ownershipDocument>

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</SEC-DOCUMENT>
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