-----BEGIN PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----
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,
 BaUfBkTwb5p61/+CS72qGx0D6Szhaky1Wg1usNppxVhBCPskf8XQ9zaNBAXMZpuK
 PYbiYUTpSgKX+0vPf0hgDw==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001245031-03-000089.txt : 20031230
<SEC-HEADER>0001245031-03-000089.hdr.sgml : 20031230
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20031230165041
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001245031-03-000089
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20031226
FILED AS OF DATE:		20031230

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:		031078200

	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>
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<ownershipDocument>
    <schemaVersion>X0201</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType><periodOfReport>2003-12-26</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 - Finance</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></nonDeriva
tiveHolding></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><footnoteId 
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></underlyingSecuritySh
ares></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>2003-12-26</value></transactionDate><transactionCoding><transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType><transactionCode>A</transactionCode><equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved><footnoteId id="F3"/></transactionCoding><transactionAmounts><transactionShares><value>21.909</value></transactionShares><transactionPricePerShare><value>31.95</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>21.909</value></underlyingSecurityShares></underlyingSecurity><postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>670.629</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></underlyin
gSecurity><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/></nature
OfOwnership></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 compan
y initiatives over the 2002-2003 period.  </footnote></footnotes><remarks/><ownerSignature><signatureName>Jason D. Bartel under Power of Attorney for Blaine A. Metzger</signatureName><signatureDate>2003-12-30</signatureDate></ownerSignature></ownershipDocument>

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</SEC-DOCUMENT>
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