<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001497930-13-000003.txt : 20130104
<SEC-HEADER>0001497930-13-000003.hdr.sgml : 20130104
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20130104100859
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001497930-13-000003
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4/A
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20130101
FILED AS OF DATE:		20130104
DATE AS OF CHANGE:		20130104

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			Bacchus Judith L
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001522176

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4/A
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	001-05318
		FILM NUMBER:		13510054

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		1600 TECHNOLOGY WAY
		CITY:			LATROBE
		STATE:			PA
		ZIP:			15650

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			KENNAMETAL INC
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0000055242
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	MACHINE TOOLS, METAL CUTTING TYPES [3541]
		IRS NUMBER:				250900168
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			PA
		FISCAL YEAR END:			0630

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		1600 TECHNOLOGY WAY
		STREET 2:		P O  BOX 231
		CITY:			LATROBE
		STATE:			PA
		ZIP:			15650
		BUSINESS PHONE:		7245395000

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		1600 TECHNOLOGY WAY
		STREET 2:		PO BOX 231
		CITY:			LATROBE
		STATE:			PA
		ZIP:			15650
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4/A
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>primary_doc.xml
<DESCRIPTION>PRIMARY DOCUMENT
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0306</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4/A</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2013-01-01</periodOfReport>

    <dateOfOriginalSubmission>2013-01-03</dateOfOriginalSubmission>

    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000055242</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>KENNAMETAL INC</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>kmt</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001522176</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>Bacchus Judith L</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>1600 TECHNOLOGY WAY</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>LATROBE</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>PA</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>15650</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>0</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>1</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
            <officerTitle>Vice President</officerTitle>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2013-01-01</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>F</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>635</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>40</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>D</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>5705.78</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">This amended filing is to adjust the tax liablity from 689 shares to 635 shares associated with the 1.1.2013 vesting of restricted stock units.  The adjustment increases the beneficial ownership by 54 shares.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>By: Kevin G. Nowe  For: Judith L. Bacchus</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2013-01-04</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
