-----BEGIN PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----
Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
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 TWSM7vrzLADbmYQaionwg5sDW3P6oaM5D3tdezXMm7z1T+B+twIDAQAB
MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
 Q9q3hz3H2/luCUDiRx3AB2QWQyBSoQdog9K/QzeccYQjy9SbMPDfV85wO8RLfXlm
 ruhwtcVRa6vKibOIPPLxZg==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001041339-04-000002.txt : 20040318
<SEC-HEADER>0001041339-04-000002.hdr.sgml : 20040318
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20040318134841
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001041339-04-000002
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20040317
FILED AS OF DATE:		20040318

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			OPPENHEIMER HOLDINGS INC
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0000791963
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	SECURITY BROKERS, DEALERS & FLOTATION COMPANIES [6211]
		IRS NUMBER:				980080034
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			A6
		FISCAL YEAR END:			1231

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		SUITE 1110, P.O. BOX 2015
		STREET 2:		20 EGLINTON AVE. WEST
		CITY:			TORONTO
		STATE:			A6
		ZIP:			M4R 1K8
		BUSINESS PHONE:		(416)322-1515

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		PO BOX 2015 SUITE 1110
		STREET 2:		20 EGLINTON AVENUE WEST
		CITY:			TORONTO
		STATE:			A6
		ZIP:			M4R 1K8

	FORMER COMPANY:	
		FORMER CONFORMED NAME:	FAHNESTOCK VINER HOLDINGS INC
		DATE OF NAME CHANGE:	19950725

	FORMER COMPANY:	
		FORMER CONFORMED NAME:	VINER E A HOLDINGS LTD
		DATE OF NAME CHANGE:	19880622

	FORMER COMPANY:	
		FORMER CONFORMED NAME:	GOLDALE INVESTMENTS LTD
		DATE OF NAME CHANGE:	19861030

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			LOWENTHAL ALBERT G
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001041339

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	001-12043
		FILM NUMBER:		04677421

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		C/O OPPENHEIMER HOLDINGS INC
		STREET 2:		BOX 2015, 20 EGLINTON AVE. W.
		CITY:			TORONTO ONTARIO
		STATE:			A6
		ZIP:			M4R 1K8
		BUSINESS PHONE:		4163221515

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		188 MAMARONECK RD
		CITY:			SCARSDALE
		STATE:			NY
		ZIP:			10583
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>primary_doc.xml
<DESCRIPTION>PRIMARY DOCUMENT
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0201</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2004-03-17</periodOfReport>

    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000791963</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>OPPENHEIMER HOLDINGS INC</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>OPY</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001041339</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>LOWENTHAL ALBERT G</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>188 MAMARONECK RD</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>SCARSDALE</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>NY</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>10583</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>1</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>1</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>1</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
            <officerTitle>CHAIRMAN AND CEO</officerTitle>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <derivativeTable>
        <derivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>OPTIONS ON CLASS A NON-VOTING SHARES</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <value>33</value>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2004-03-17</value>
                <footnoteId id="F1"/>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>M</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>150000</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>33</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <exerciseDate>
                <value>2008-08-25</value>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <value>2009-02-25</value>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>CLASS A NON-VOTING SHARES</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>150000</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>300000</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeTransaction>
    </derivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">OPTIONS WERE GRANTED ON FEBRUARY 26, 2004 SUBJECT TO SHAREHOLDER APPROVAL (WHICH WILL BE SOUGHT ON MAY 17, 2004) AND TORONTO STOCK EXCHANGE APPROVAL, WHICH WAS OBTAINED ON MARCH 17, 2004.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>A.G. LOWENTHAL</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2004-03-17</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>

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