<SUBMISSION>
<ACCESSION-NUMBER>0001179110-04-015134
<TYPE>3
<PUBLIC-DOCUMENT-COUNT>1
<PERIOD>20040719
<FILING-DATE>20040722
<REPORTING-OWNER>
<OWNER-DATA>
<CONFORMED-NAME>Conner Scott B
<CIK>0001297834
</OWNER-DATA>
<FILING-VALUES>
<FORM-TYPE>3
<ACT>34
<FILE-NUMBER>000-16182
<FILM-NUMBER>04927057
</FILING-VALUES>
<BUSINESS-ADDRESS>
<PHONE>860-257-0200
</BUSINESS-ADDRESS>
<MAIL-ADDRESS>
<STREET1>175 CAPITAL BOULEVARD
<STREET2>SUITE 103
<CITY>ROCKY HILL
<STATE>CT
<ZIP>06067
</MAIL-ADDRESS>
</REPORTING-OWNER>
<ISSUER>
<COMPANY-DATA>
<CONFORMED-NAME>AXSYS TECHNOLOGIES INC
<CIK>0000206030
<ASSIGNED-SIC>3827
<IRS-NUMBER>111962029
<STATE-OF-INCORPORATION>DE
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>1228
</COMPANY-DATA>
<BUSINESS-ADDRESS>
<STREET1>175 CAPITAL BLVD SUITE 103
<CITY>ROCKY HILL
<STATE>CT
<ZIP>06067
<PHONE>2018711500
</BUSINESS-ADDRESS>
<MAIL-ADDRESS>
<STREET1>175 CAPITAL BLVD SUITE 103
<CITY>ROCKY HILL
<STATE>CT
<ZIP>06067
</MAIL-ADDRESS>
<FORMER-COMPANY>
<FORMER-CONFORMED-NAME>VERNITRON CORP
<DATE-CHANGED>19920703
</FORMER-COMPANY>
</ISSUER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>3
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>edgar.xml
<DESCRIPTION>FORM 3 -
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0202</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>3</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2004-07-19</periodOfReport>

    <noSecuritiesOwned>0</noSecuritiesOwned>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000206030</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>AXSYS TECHNOLOGIES INC</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>AXYS</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001297834</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>Conner Scott B</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>175 CAPITAL BOULEVARD, SUITE 103</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>ROCKY HILL</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>CT</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>06067</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>0</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>1</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
            <officerTitle>VP Strategic Planning &amp; Dev.</officerTitle>
            <otherText></otherText>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable></nonDerivativeTable>

    <derivativeTable>
        <derivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Stock Incentive Options (right to buy)</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <value>14.220</value>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <exerciseDate>
                <value>2005-07-19</value>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <value>2014-07-19</value>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Common Stock, $0.01 par value per share</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>45000</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeHolding>
    </derivativeTable>

    <footnotes></footnotes>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>Scott B. Conner</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2004-07-21</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>

</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SUBMISSION>
