<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001497930-14-000025.txt : 20140731
<SEC-HEADER>0001497930-14-000025.hdr.sgml : 20140731
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20140731082619
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001497930-14-000025
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20140729
FILED AS OF DATE:		20140731
DATE AS OF CHANGE:		20140731

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

REPORTING-OWNER:	

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

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	001-05318
		FILM NUMBER:		141004652

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

    <schemaVersion>X0306</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2014-07-29</periodOfReport>

    <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>2014-07-29</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>A</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>910</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>0</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>8785</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F2"/>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">Represents shares deemed to have been earned by the Compensation Committee on July 29, 2014 with respect to the first tranche of the Performance Unit Award granted to the reporting person on August 1, 2013 under the Plan (the &quot;2014 Performance Unit Award&quot;).  The vesting and actual payout of these shares remain subject to the reporting person's continued employment with the Company through August 1, 2016.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F2">Includes 981 shares held within the Kennametal Inc. 401K Plan.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>By: Kevin G. Nowe  For: Judith L. Bacchus</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2014-07-31</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
