<?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-8"?>
<ownershipDocument>
    <schemaVersion>X0201</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>3</documentType>
  <periodOfReport>2003-07-31</periodOfReport>
    <noSecuritiesOwned>0</noSecuritiesOwned>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000914478</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>SAMSONITE CORP/FL</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>samc</issuerTradingSymbol>
  </issuer>
  <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001231570</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>BAIN CAPITAL EUROPE LLC</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>DEVOSHIRE HOUSE MAYFAIR PLACE</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>LONDON ENGLAND</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>A1</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>1JI3AI</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription>BRITISH COLUMBIA, CANADA</rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
            <reportingOwnerRelationship>
      <isDirector>0</isDirector>
      <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
      <isTenPercentOwner>1</isTenPercentOwner>
      <isOther>0</isOther>
    </reportingOwnerRelationship>
  </reportingOwner>
  <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001040508</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>BAIN CAPITAL INVESTORS LLC</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>C/O BAIN CAPITAL, LLC</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>111 HUNTINGTON AVENUE</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>BOSTON</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>MA</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>2199</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
            <reportingOwnerRelationship>
      <isDirector>0</isDirector>
      <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
      <isTenPercentOwner>1</isTenPercentOwner>
      <isOther>0</isOther>
    </reportingOwnerRelationship>
  </reportingOwner>
  <derivativeTable>
    <derivativeHolding>
      <securityTitle>
        <value>2003 Convertible Preferred Stock</value>
        <footnoteId id="F1"/>
      </securityTitle>
      <conversionOrExercisePrice>
        <value>0.42</value>
        <footnoteId id="F5"/>
      </conversionOrExercisePrice>
      <exerciseDate>
        <value>2003-07-31</value>
        <footnoteId id="F2"/>
      </exerciseDate>
      <expirationDate>
        <value>1988-08-08</value>
        <footnoteId id="F3"/>
      </expirationDate>
      <underlyingSecurity>
        <underlyingSecurityTitle>
          <value>Common Stock</value>
        </underlyingSecurityTitle>
        <underlyingSecurityShares>
          <value>84126190</value>
          <footnoteId id="F4"/>
        </underlyingSecurityShares>
      </underlyingSecurity>
      <ownershipNature>
        <directOrIndirectOwnership>
          <value>D</value>
        </directOrIndirectOwnership>
      </ownershipNature>
    </derivativeHolding>
    <derivativeHolding>
      <securityTitle>
        <value>2003 Convertible Preferred Stock</value>
        <footnoteId id="F1"/>
      </securityTitle>
      <conversionOrExercisePrice>
        <value>0.42</value>
        <footnoteId id="F5"/>
      </conversionOrExercisePrice>
      <exerciseDate>
        <value>2003-07-31</value>
        <footnoteId id="F2"/>
      </exerciseDate>
      <expirationDate>
        <value>1988-08-08</value>
        <footnoteId id="F3"/>
      </expirationDate>
      <underlyingSecurity>
        <underlyingSecurityTitle>
          <value>Common Stock</value>
        </underlyingSecurityTitle>
        <underlyingSecurityShares>
          <value>84126190</value>
          <footnoteId id="F4"/>
        </underlyingSecurityShares>
      </underlyingSecurity>
      <ownershipNature>
        <directOrIndirectOwnership>
          <value>I</value>
        </directOrIndirectOwnership>
        <natureOfOwnership>
          <value>By Bain Capital Investors, LLC</value>
          <footnoteId id="F6"/>
        </natureOfOwnership>
      </ownershipNature>
    </derivativeHolding>
  </derivativeTable>
  <footnotes>
    <footnote id="F1">Shares held in name of Bain Capital (Europe) LLC</footnote>
    <footnote id="F2">This date is a default or "dummy" date.  The 2003 Convertible Preferred Stock is convertible at the option of the holder.</footnote>
    <footnote id="F3">This date is a default or "dummy" date.  There is no expiration date.</footnote>
    <footnote id="F4">As of 7/31/03 at $0.42 per share, subject to anti-dilution protections.</footnote>
    <footnote id="F5">As of July 31, 2003, at conversion at $0.42 per share.</footnote>
    <footnote id="F6">Bain Capital Investors, LLC is the Manager of Bain Capital (Europe) LLC, and also has an indirect pecuniary interest in the 2003 Convertible Preferred Stock held in the name of Bain Capital (Europe) LLC through its profit participation as the ultimate general partner of certain investment funds which are passive members of Bain Capital (Europe) LLC.</footnote>
  </footnotes>
  <ownerSignature>
    <signatureName>Melissa Wong, Bain Capital (Europe) LLC</signatureName>
    <signatureDate>2003-08-08</signatureDate>
  </ownerSignature>
  <ownerSignature>
    <signatureName>Dwight Poler, Bain Capital Investors, LLC</signatureName>
    <signatureDate>2003-08-08</signatureDate>
  </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>

