-----BEGIN PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----
Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
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MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
 ESMQ5JKBwHmBouQLb2PQy6QquQbI/NeZRt17Pk0lK9icS2LtiZaR0cwDk/0LYNP8
 eX4IbJPDv3ij3ea7duGu3Q==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001181431-03-023598.txt : 20030918
<SEC-HEADER>0001181431-03-023598.hdr.sgml : 20030918
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20030918082322
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001181431-03-023598
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20030916
FILED AS OF DATE:		20030918

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

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			RYAN JOHN T III
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001001300

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	001-15579
		FILM NUMBER:		03900388

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		P O BOX 426
		CITY:			PITTSBURGH
		STATE:			PA
		ZIP:			15230
		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>rrd18684.xml
<DESCRIPTION>FORM 4
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?><ownershipDocument>
    <schemaVersion>X0201</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType><periodOfReport>2003-09-16</periodOfReport><notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>
    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000066570</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>MINE SAFETY APPLIANCES CO</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>MSA</issuerTradingSymbol></issuer><reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001001300</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>RYAN JOHN T III</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>121 GAMMA DRIVE</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>PITTSBURGH</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>PA</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>15238</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
            <reportingOwnerRelationship>
<isDirector>1</isDirector><isOfficer>1</isOfficer><isTenPercentOwner>1</isTenPercentOwner><isOther>0</isOther><officerTitle>Chairman and CEO</officerTitle></reportingOwnerRelationship></reportingOwner><nonDerivativeTable><nonDerivativeTransaction><securityTitle><value>Common Stock, no par value</value></securityTitle><transactionDate><value>2003-09-16</value></transactionDate><transactionCoding><transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType><transactionCode>S</transactionCode><equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved></transactionCoding><transactionAmounts><transactionShares><value>100</value></transactionShares><transactionPricePerShare><value>57.76</value></transactionPricePerShare><transactionAcquiredDisposedCode><value>D</value></transactionAcquiredDisposedCode></transactionAmounts><postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>346138</value></sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction></postTransactionAmounts><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>D</value></directOrIndirectOwnership></ow
nershipNature></nonDerivativeTransaction><nonDerivativeTransaction><securityTitle><value>Common Stock, no par value</value></securityTitle><transactionDate><value>2003-09-16</value></transactionDate><transactionCoding><transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType><transactionCode>S</transactionCode><equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved></transactionCoding><transactionAmounts><transactionShares><value>1900</value></transactionShares><transactionPricePerShare><value>57.40</value></transactionPricePerShare><transactionAcquiredDisposedCode><value>D</value></transactionAcquiredDisposedCode></transactionAmounts><postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>344238</value></sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction></postTransactionAmounts><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>D</value></directOrIndirectOwnership></ownershipNature></nonDerivativeTransaction><nonDerivativeTransaction><securityTitle><value>Common Stock, no par value</value></securityTitle><transactionDate><value>2003-09-16</valu
e></transactionDate><transactionCoding><transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType><transactionCode>S</transactionCode><equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved></transactionCoding><transactionAmounts><transactionShares><value>200</value></transactionShares><transactionPricePerShare><value>57.41</value></transactionPricePerShare><transactionAcquiredDisposedCode><value>D</value></transactionAcquiredDisposedCode></transactionAmounts><postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>344038</value></sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction></postTransactionAmounts><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>D</value></directOrIndirectOwnership></ownershipNature></nonDerivativeTransaction><nonDerivativeTransaction><securityTitle><value>Common Stock, no par value</value></securityTitle><transactionDate><value>2003-09-16</value></transactionDate><transactionCoding><transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType><transactionCode>S</transactionCode><equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved></transactionCoding
><transactionAmounts><transactionShares><value>1800</value></transactionShares><transactionPricePerShare><value>57.20</value></transactionPricePerShare><transactionAcquiredDisposedCode><value>D</value></transactionAcquiredDisposedCode></transactionAmounts><postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>342238</value></sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction></postTransactionAmounts><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>D</value></directOrIndirectOwnership></ownershipNature></nonDerivativeTransaction><nonDerivativeTransaction><securityTitle><value>Common Stock, no par value</value></securityTitle><transactionDate><value>2003-09-16</value></transactionDate><transactionCoding><transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType><transactionCode>S</transactionCode><equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved></transactionCoding><transactionAmounts><transactionShares><value>100</value></transactionShares><transactionPricePerShare><value>57.10</value></transactionPricePerShare><transactionAcquiredDisposed
Code><value>D</value></transactionAcquiredDisposedCode></transactionAmounts><postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>342138</value></sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction></postTransactionAmounts><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>D</value></directOrIndirectOwnership></ownershipNature></nonDerivativeTransaction><nonDerivativeTransaction><securityTitle><value>Common Stock, no par value</value></securityTitle><transactionDate><value>2003-09-16</value></transactionDate><transactionCoding><transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType><transactionCode>S</transactionCode><equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved></transactionCoding><transactionAmounts><transactionShares><value>900</value></transactionShares><transactionPricePerShare><value>56.90</value></transactionPricePerShare><transactionAcquiredDisposedCode><value>D</value></transactionAcquiredDisposedCode></transactionAmounts><postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>341238</value></sharesOwnedFollowingTran
saction></postTransactionAmounts><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>D</value></directOrIndirectOwnership></ownershipNature></nonDerivativeTransaction><nonDerivativeHolding><securityTitle><value>Common Stock, no par value</value></securityTitle><postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>140523</value></sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction></postTransactionAmounts><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>I</value></directOrIndirectOwnership><natureOfOwnership><value>By Wife (1)</value></natureOfOwnership></ownershipNature></nonDerivativeHolding><nonDerivativeHolding><securityTitle><value>Common Stock, no par value</value></securityTitle><postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>67023</value></sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction></postTransactionAmounts><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>I</value></directOrIndirectOwnership><natureOfOwnership><value>By Wife as Trustee (2)</value></natureOfOwnership></ownershipNature></nonDerivativeHoldi
ng><nonDerivativeHolding><securityTitle><value>Common Stock, no par value</value></securityTitle><postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>158052</value></sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction></postTransactionAmounts><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>I</value></directOrIndirectOwnership><natureOfOwnership><value>As Co-Trustee (3)</value></natureOfOwnership></ownershipNature></nonDerivativeHolding><nonDerivativeHolding><securityTitle><value>Common Stock, no par value</value></securityTitle><postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>792963</value></sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction></postTransactionAmounts><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>I</value></directOrIndirectOwnership><natureOfOwnership><value>As Co-Trustee (4)</value></natureOfOwnership></ownershipNature></nonDerivativeHolding><nonDerivativeHolding><securityTitle><value>Common Stock, no par value</value></securityTitle><postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>
152764</value></sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction></postTransactionAmounts><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>I</value></directOrIndirectOwnership><natureOfOwnership><value>By Partnership (5)</value></natureOfOwnership></ownershipNature></nonDerivativeHolding></nonDerivativeTable><remarks>(1) I disclaim beneficial ownership of these shares.

(2) Shares held in trusts of which I am not a trustee and in which members of my immediate family are beneficiaries.  I disclaim

      beneficial ownership of these shares.

(3) Shares held in trusts of which I am a trustee and in which I and members of my immediate family are among the beneficiaries.

(4) Shares held in a trust of which I am a trustee and in which a member of my immediate family is the beneficiary.  I disclaim

      beneficial ownership of these shares.

(5) Shares held by a family limited partnership of which I am a general partner and the other partners include members of my

      immediate family.  I disclaim beneficial ownership of these shares except to the extent of my pecuniary interest.</remarks><ownerSignature><signatureName>Douglas K. McClaine, Attorney-in-Fact for John T. Ryan III</signatureName><signatureDate>2003-09-18</signatureDate></ownerSignature></ownershipDocument>



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