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Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
Originator-Key-Asymmetric:
 MFgwCgYEVQgBAQICAf8DSgAwRwJAW2sNKK9AVtBzYZmr6aGjlWyK3XmZv3dTINen
 TWSM7vrzLADbmYQaionwg5sDW3P6oaM5D3tdezXMm7z1T+B+twIDAQAB
MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
 VwkctdVfaFmUVKmzVbFBjPXbUZG8U5uRj273hDMuNPSV25S1fHGjcJ5qkV3KK/k8
 bPhaFnumVS4DyIc1YYiCiw==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001181431-03-014307.txt : 20030716
<SEC-HEADER>0001181431-03-014307.hdr.sgml : 20030716
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20030716161659
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001181431-03-014307
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20030714
FILED AS OF DATE:		20030716

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			MERRY EUGENE W
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001187337

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	001-15579
		FILM NUMBER:		03789631

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		P O BOX 426
		CITY:			PITTSBURGH
		STATE:			PA
		ZIP:			15230-0426
		BUSINESS PHONE:		4129673000

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			MINE SAFETY APPLIANCES CO
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0000066570
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	ORTHOPEDIC, PROSTHETIC & SURGICAL APPLIANCES & SUPPLIES [3842]
		IRS NUMBER:				250668780
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			PA
		FISCAL YEAR END:			1231

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		121 GAMMA DR
		STREET 2:		OHARA TOWNSHIP
		CITY:			PITTSBURGH
		STATE:			PA
		ZIP:			15238
		BUSINESS PHONE:		4129673000

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		P O BOX 426
		CITY:			PITTSBURGH
		STATE:			PA
		ZIP:			15230
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>rrd13255.xml
<DESCRIPTION>FORM 4
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>
    <schemaVersion>X0101</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>
<periodOfReport>2003-07-14</periodOfReport>
<notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>
    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000066570</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>MINE SAFETY APPLIANCES CO</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>MSA</issuerTradingSymbol></issuer>
<reportingOwner>
<reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001187337</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>MERRY EUGENE W</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>  </rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>  </rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>  </rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>  </rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>  </rptOwnerZipCode>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
            <reportingOwnerRelationship>
<isDirector>0</isDirector>
<isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
<isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
<isOther>1</isOther>
<officerTitle></officerTitle>
<otherText>Director Emeritus</otherText></reportingOwnerRelationship></reportingOwner>
<nonDerivativeSecurity>
<securityTitle>
<value>Common Stock, No Par Value</value></securityTitle>
<transactionDate>
<value>2003-07-14</value></transactionDate>
<transactionCoding>
<transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
<transactionCode>S</transactionCode>
<equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved></transactionCoding>
<transactionTimeliness>
<value></value></transactionTimeliness>
<transactionAmounts>
<transactionShares>
<value>100</value></transactionShares>
<transactionValue>
<value>47.00</value></transactionValue>
<transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
<value>D</value></transactionAcquiredDisposedCode></transactionAmounts>
<postTransactionAmounts>
<sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
<value>205849</value></sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction></postTransactionAmounts>
<ownershipNature>
<directOrIndirectOwnership>
<value>D</value></directOrIndirectOwnership>
<natureOfOwnership>
<value></value></natureOfOwnership></ownershipNature></nonDerivativeSecurity>
<ownerSignature>
<signatureName>Douglas K. McClaine, Attorney-in-Fact for Eugene W. Merry</signatureName>
<signatureDate>2003-07-16</signatureDate></ownerSignature></ownershipDocument>


</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
-----END PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----
