Capital Stock	9 Months Ended
Sep. 30, 2014
Equity [Abstract]
Capital Stock	Capital Stock Preferred Stock - The Company has authorized 100,000 shares of $50 par value 4.5% cumulative preferred nonvoting stock which is callable at $52.50. There are 71,373 shares issued and 52,878 shares held in treasury at September 30, 2014. There were no treasury purchases of preferred stock during the quarter or nine months ended September 30, 2014. The Company has also authorized 1,000,000 shares of $10 par value second cumulative preferred voting stock. No shares have been issued as of September 30, 2014. Common Stock - The Company has authorized 180,000,000 shares of no par value common stock. There were 37,439,243 and 37,202,099 shares outstanding at September 30, 2014 and December 31, 2013, respectively. Stock Compensation Trust - The MSA Safety Incorporated Stock Compensation Trust was established to provide shares for certain benefit plans, including the management equity incentive plan. Shares held by the Stock Compensation Trust and the corresponding cost of those shares, were reported as a reduction of common shares issued. Differences between the cost of the shares held by the Stock Compensation Trust and the market value of shares released for stock-related benefits were reflected in common stock issued. The Stock Compensation Trust was depleted at September 30, 2014 and the Company now issues common stock from Treasury Shares. There were 303,668 Stock Compensation Trust shares available at December 31, 2013. Treasury Shares - In November 2005, the Board of Directors authorized the purchase of up to $100.0 million of MSA common stock either through private transactions or open market transactions. The share purchase program has no expiration date. The maximum shares that may be purchased is calculated based on the dollars remaining under the program and the respective month-end closing share price. We do not have any other share purchase programs. There were 24,642,148 and 24,575,624 Treasury Shares at September 30, 2014 and December 31, 2013, respectively. The Company began issuing Treasury Shares for all Board of Director share based benefit plans in April, 2014. The Company subsequently began issuing Treasury Shares for all share based benefit plans when the stock compensation trust was depleted in September 2014. Shares are issued from Treasury at the average Treasury Share cost on the date of the transaction. There were 39,711 Treasury Shares issued for these purposes during the nine months ended September 30, 2014.

Capital Stock

9 Months Ended

Sep. 30, 2014

Preferred Stock - The Company has authorized 100,000 shares of $50 par value 4.5% cumulative preferred nonvoting stock which is callable at $52.50. There are 71,373 shares issued and 52,878 shares held in treasury at September 30, 2014. There were no treasury purchases of preferred stock during the quarter or nine months ended September 30, 2014. The Company has also authorized 1,000,000 shares of $10 par value second cumulative preferred voting stock. No shares have been issued as of September 30, 2014.

Common Stock - The Company has authorized 180,000,000 shares of no par value common stock. There were 37,439,243 and 37,202,099 shares outstanding at September 30, 2014 and December 31, 2013, respectively.

Stock Compensation Trust - The MSA Safety Incorporated Stock Compensation Trust was established to provide shares for certain benefit plans, including the management equity incentive plan. Shares held by the Stock Compensation Trust and the corresponding cost of those shares, were reported as a reduction of common shares issued. Differences between the cost of the shares held by the Stock Compensation Trust and the market value of shares released for stock-related benefits were reflected in common stock issued. The Stock Compensation Trust was depleted at September 30, 2014 and the Company now issues common stock from Treasury Shares. There were 303,668 Stock Compensation Trust shares available at December 31, 2013.

Treasury Shares - In November 2005, the Board of Directors authorized the purchase of up to $100.0 million of MSA common stock either through private transactions or open market transactions. The share purchase program has no expiration date. The maximum shares that may be purchased is calculated based on the dollars remaining under the program and the respective month-end closing share price. We do not have any other share purchase programs. There were 24,642,148 and 24,575,624 Treasury Shares at September 30, 2014 and December 31, 2013, respectively.

The Company began issuing Treasury Shares for all Board of Director share based benefit plans in April, 2014. The Company subsequently began issuing Treasury Shares for all share based benefit plans when the stock compensation trust was depleted in September 2014. Shares are issued from Treasury at the average Treasury Share cost on the date of the transaction. There were 39,711 Treasury Shares issued for these purposes during the nine months ended September 30, 2014.