Summary of Unaudited Quarterly Financial Information (Detail) (USD $) In Thousands, except Per Share data, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended																12 Months Ended
	Oct. 25, 2013		Jul. 26, 2013		Apr. 26, 2013		Jan. 25, 2013		Oct. 26, 2012		Jul. 27, 2012		Apr. 27, 2012		Jan. 27, 2012		Oct. 25, 2013		Oct. 26, 2012		Oct. 28, 2011
Quarterly Financial Information [Line Items]
Net Sales	$ 534,162		$ 478,068		$ 499,562		$ 457,962		$ 530,656		$ 485,949		$ 504,831		$ 470,882		$ 1,969,754	[1]	$ 1,992,318	[1]	$ 1,717,985	[1]
Gross Profit	205,373		178,902		181,376		160,345		204,253		172,096		184,523		158,081		725,996		718,953		589,720
Earnings from continuing operations	66,188		39,213	[2],[3],[4]	35,522		25,111	[5]	61,660		(17,104)	[6],[7]	45,191	[8]	22,788		166,034		112,535		133,087
Earnings from discontinued operations	(325)		(975)		0		0		0		0		0		0		(1,300)		0		(47)
Net earnings	$ 65,863		$ 38,238		$ 35,522		$ 25,111		$ 61,660		$ (17,104)		$ 45,191		$ 22,788		$ 164,734		$ 112,535		$ 133,040
Continuing operations	$ 2.11		$ 1.25		$ 1.14		$ 0.81		$ 2.00		$ (0.55)		$ 1.47		$ 0.74		$ 5.32		$ 3.66		$ 4.36
Discontinued operations	$ (0.01)		$ (0.03)		$ 0.00		$ 0.00		$ 0.00		$ 0.00		$ 0.00		$ 0.00		$ (0.04)		$ 0.00		$ 0.00
Earnings per share - basic	$ 2.10		$ 1.22		$ 1.14		$ 0.81		$ 2.00		$ (0.55)		$ 1.47		$ 0.74		$ 5.28		$ 3.66		$ 4.36
Continuing operations	$ 2.07		$ 1.23		$ 1.12		$ 0.80		$ 1.97		$ (0.55)		$ 1.44		$ 0.73		$ 5.23		$ 3.60		$ 4.27
Discontinued operations	$ (0.01)		$ (0.03)		$ 0.00		$ 0.00		$ 0.00		$ 0.00		$ 0.00		$ 0.00		$ (0.04)		$ 0.00		$ 0.00
Earnings per share - diluted	$ 2.06	[9]	$ 1.20	[9]	$ 1.12	[9]	$ 0.80	[9]	$ 1.97	[9]	$ (0.55)	[9]	$ 1.44	[9]	$ 0.73	[9]	$ 5.19		$ 3.60		$ 4.27

[1] Based on country from which the sale originated and the sale was recorded.

[2] Included a $10.0 million charge related to our pending matter with the DDTC.

[3] Included $8.2 million of income tax benefits related to the favorable resolution of certain tax matters.

[4] Included a $3.5 million goodwill impairment charge related to Racal Acoustics.

[5] Included $3.7 million of income tax benefits related to the favorable resolution of certain tax matters.

[6] Included a $52.2 million goodwill impairment charge related to Racal Acoustics.

[7] Included $4.6 million of income tax benefits related to the favorable resolution of certain tax matters.

[8] Included a $9.5 million gain on settlement of a contingency, net of tax.

[9] The sum of the quarterly per share amounts may not equal per shares amounts reported for year-to-date periods. This is due to changes in the number of weighted average shares outstanding and the effects of rounding for each period.