<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001497930-14-000072.txt : 20141103
<SEC-HEADER>0001497930-14-000072.hdr.sgml : 20141103
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20141103143015
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001497930-14-000072
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20141101
FILED AS OF DATE:		20141103
DATE AS OF CHANGE:		20141103

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:			Kohosek James M.
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001612398

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	001-05318
		FILM NUMBER:		141189000

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		1600 TECHNOLOGY WAY
		CITY:			LATROBE
		STATE:			X1
		ZIP:			15650

	FORMER NAME:	
		FORMER CONFORMED NAME:	Kohosek James T.
		DATE OF NAME CHANGE:	20140701
</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>2014-11-01</periodOfReport>

    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

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

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001612398</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>Kohosek James M.</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>1600 TECHNOLOGY WAY</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>LATROBE</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>X1</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>15650</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription>UNITED STATES</rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>0</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>1</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
            <officerTitle>Vice President</officerTitle>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <derivativeTable>
        <derivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Restricted Stock Units</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <footnoteId id="F1"/>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2014-11-01</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>M</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>7252</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>0</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <exerciseDate>
                <footnoteId id="F2"/>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <footnoteId id="F2"/>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Common Stock</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>7252</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>7252</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeTransaction>
    </derivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">1 - for - 1.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F2">Restricted Stock Units are subject to time based vesting and are dispersed in four equal annual installments, commencing on the first anniversary of the grant date subject to continued employment with the company.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>By: Kevin G. Nowe  For: James M. Kohosek</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2014-11-03</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
