-----BEGIN PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----
Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
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 TWSM7vrzLADbmYQaionwg5sDW3P6oaM5D3tdezXMm7z1T+B+twIDAQAB
MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
 O4d3Endp5N3aGLrVpwjq61ss/r1x46x6JExg/T7PNnCN0kv1KgMGQILuSPpdBynE
 TO1Thhz4GVTJfj7/6+sQ1A==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0000918497-04-000018.txt : 20040308
<SEC-HEADER>0000918497-04-000018.hdr.sgml : 20040308
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20040308105745
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0000918497-04-000018
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20040305
FILED AS OF DATE:		20040308

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			SPORTSMANS GUIDE INC
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0000791450
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	RETAIL-CATALOG & MAIL-ORDER HOUSES [5961]
		IRS NUMBER:				411293081
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			MN
		FISCAL YEAR END:			0103

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		411 FARWELL AVENUE SO
		CITY:			ST PAUL
		STATE:			MN
		ZIP:			55075
		BUSINESS PHONE:		6124513030

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		411 FARWELL AVE
		CITY:			S ST PAUL
		STATE:			MN
		ZIP:			55075

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			BINKLEY GREGORY R
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001238235

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	000-15767
		FILM NUMBER:		04653790

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		411 FARWELL AVENUE
		CITY:			SOUTH ST. PAUL
		STATE:			MN
		ZIP:			55075
		BUSINESS PHONE:		6514513030

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		411 FARWELL AVENUE
		CITY:			SOUTH ST. PAUL
		STATE:			MN
		ZIP:			55075
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>primary_doc.xml
<DESCRIPTION>PRIMARY DOCUMENT
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0201</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2004-03-05</periodOfReport>

    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000791450</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>SPORTSMANS GUIDE INC</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>sgde</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001238235</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>BINKLEY GREGORY R</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>411 FARWELL AVENUE</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>SOUTH ST. PAUL</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>MN</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>55075</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>1</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>1</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
            <officerTitle>President, CEO</officerTitle>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2004-03-05</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>M</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>1250</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>3.7</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>19250</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2004-03-05</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>S</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>1250</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>21.667</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>D</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>18000</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <derivativeTable>
        <derivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Employee stock option (right to buy)</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <value>3.7</value>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2004-03-05</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>M</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>1250</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>3.7</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>D</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <exerciseDate>
                <value>1994-05-18</value>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <value>2004-05-18</value>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Common Stock</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>1250</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>0</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeTransaction>
    </derivativeTable>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>Lisa S Pierce Attorney-in-fact for Gregory R Binkley</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2004-03-08</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>

</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
-----END PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----