<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0306</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2017-07-26</periodOfReport>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000052795</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>ANIXTER INTERNATIONAL INC</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>AXE</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001024193</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>ZELL SAMUEL</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>TWO NORTH RIVERSIDE PLAZA</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>SUITE 600</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>CHICAGO</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>IL</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>60606</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>true</isDirector>
            <isTenPercentOwner>true</isTenPercentOwner>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2017-07-26</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>S</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>400568</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>81.3375</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>D</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>1449432</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>I</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F3"/>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value>By Samstock/SZRT, L.L.C.</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F3"/>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2017-07-26</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>P</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>400568</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>81.3375</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>400568</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>I</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F4"/>
                    <footnoteId id="F11"/>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value>By KMJZ Investments, L.L.C.</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F4"/>
                    <footnoteId id="F11"/>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2017-07-26</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>S</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>125709</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F2"/>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>81.3375</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F2"/>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>D</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>14666</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>I</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F5"/>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value>By Trust</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F5"/>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2017-07-26</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>P</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>125709</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F2"/>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>81.3375</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F2"/>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>526277</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>I</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F4"/>
                    <footnoteId id="F11"/>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value>By KMJZ Investments, L.L.C.</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F4"/>
                    <footnoteId id="F11"/>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
        <nonDerivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>55587</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>I</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F6"/>
                    <footnoteId id="F11"/>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value>By Samstock/Alpha, L.L.C</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F6"/>
                    <footnoteId id="F11"/>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeHolding>
        <nonDerivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>1797147</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>I</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F7"/>
                    <footnoteId id="F11"/>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value>By Samstock/SIT, L.L.C</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F7"/>
                    <footnoteId id="F11"/>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeHolding>
        <nonDerivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>55588</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>I</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F8"/>
                    <footnoteId id="F11"/>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value>By Samstock/ZFT, L.L.C</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F8"/>
                    <footnoteId id="F11"/>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeHolding>
        <nonDerivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>28700</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>I</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F9"/>
                    <footnoteId id="F11"/>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value>By SZ Intervivos QTIP Trust</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F9"/>
                    <footnoteId id="F11"/>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeHolding>
        <nonDerivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>1000</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>I</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F10"/>
                    <footnoteId id="F11"/>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value>In Trust by spouse</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F10"/>
                    <footnoteId id="F11"/>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeHolding>
        <nonDerivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>82146</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F12"/>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeHolding>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">Samstock/SZRT (defined in footnote 3 below) sold 400,568 shares of Common Stock, at a price equal to the average of the highest and lowest quoted selling prices on the New York Stock Exchange of one share of Common Stock as of the date of the transaction, to KMJZ Investments (defined in footnote 4 below) for estate planning purposes.  Additional details on the transaction are available in the Schedule 13D/A filed by Samuel Zell on July 28, 2017.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F2">Samuel Zell Revocable Trust, an Illinois revocable trust of which Mr. Zell is the beneficiary and sole trustee, (&quot;Zell Trust&quot;) sold 125,709 shares of Common Stock, at a price equal to the average of the highest and lowest quoted selling prices on the New York Stock Exchange of one share of Common Stock as of the date of the transaction, to KMJZ Investments for estate planning purposes.  Additional details on the transaction are available in the Schedule 13D/A filed by Samuel Zell on July 28, 2017.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F3">Samstock/SZRT, L.L.C. is a Delaware limited liability company (&quot;Samstock/SZRT&quot;) whose sole member is Zell Trust.  Mr. Zell is the sole trustee and beneficiary of Zell Trust.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F4">KMJZ Investments, L.L.C., a Delaware limited liability company, (&quot;KMJZ Investments&quot;) is owned by various trusts established for the benefit of Mr. Zell and members of his family (collectively, the &quot;Zell Family&quot;).  The trustee of such trusts is Chai Trust Company, L.L.C., an Illinois limited liability company (&quot;Chai Trust&quot;).  Mr. Zell is not an officer or director of Chai Trust and does not have voting or dispositive power over such shares.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F5">These shares of Common Stock are beneficially owned by Zell Trust, the trustee of which is Mr. Zell.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F6">Samstock/Alpha, L.L.C. is a Delaware limited liability company whose sole member is Alphabet Partners, an Illinois partnership.  Alphabet Partners is owned by various trusts established for the benefit of the Zell Family, the trustee of which is Chai Trust. Mr. Zell is not an officer or director of Chai Trust and does not have voting or dispositive power over such shares.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F7">Samstock/SIT, L.L.C. is a Delaware limited liability company whose sole member is Sam Investment Trust, an Illinois trust established for the benefit of the Zell Family, the trustee of which is Chai Trust.  Mr. Zell is not an officer or director of Chai Trust and does not have voting or dispositive power over such shares.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F8">Samstock/ZFT, L.L.C. is a Delaware limited liability whose sole member is ZFT Partnership, an Illinois partnership.  ZFT Partnership is owned by various trusts established for the benefit of the Zell Family, the trustee of which is Chai Trust.  Mr. Zell is not an officer or director of Chai Trust and does not have voting or dispositive power over such shares.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F9">SZ Intervivos QTIP Trust is a trust organized in Illinois established for the benefit of the Zell Family and the Zell Family Foundation.  The trustee of SZ Intervivos QTIP Trust is Chai Trust.  Mr. Zell is not an officer or director of Chai Trust and does not have voting or dispositive power over such shares.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F10">These shares of Common Stock are owned by the Helen Zell Revocable Trust (&quot;HZRT&quot;).  Mr. Zell's spouse, Helen Zell, is the trustee of HZRT.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F11">Mr. Zell disclaims beneficial ownership of the reported securities except to the extent, if any, of its or his pecuniary interest therein, and this report shall not be deemed an admission that Mr. Zell is the beneficial owner of the reported securities for purposes of Section 16 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, or for any other purpose.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F12">This amount includes stock units that are fully vested at time of grant and will convert to shares of Common Stock on a 1-for-1 basis at a time that was determined prior to the grant.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>/s/ Samuel Zell</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2017-07-28</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
