EXHIBIT 99


                                                                April 28, 1997

                                                                     Immediate


KENNAMETAL ANNOUNCES INITIAL PUBLIC OFFERING OF JLK DIRECT DISTRIBUTION INC.

Latrobe, Pa., April 28, 1997 - Kennametal Inc. (KMT/NYSE) announced today that 
the Board of Directors approved a proposal to sell, through an initial public 
offering (IPO), up to 20 percent of common stock by its newly formed 
subsidiary, JLK Direct Distribution Inc. (JLK).  Following the offering, 
Kennametal will own approximately 80 percent of the outstanding common stock 
of JLK and will retain a majority of both the economic and voting interests of 
JLK.  The Company also announced the filing of a registration statement with 
the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) covering this offering.

President and Chief Executive Officer Robert L. McGeehan said, "We are taking 
this action to increase visibility to investors of our fast-growing 
metalworking industrial supply distribution business, to enhance the 
implementation of our strategic business plan and to further increase the 
value of Kennametal stock.  This should have a positive effect on Kennametal's 
continued growth by providing focused leadership and entrepreneurial 
incentives to the metalworking industrial supply distribution business."  Mr. 
McGeehan added, "Mike Ruprich will become the chief executive officer of JLK.  
Mike previously served as Kennametal's director of global marketing and sales 
for the past year and before that as president of J&L America, Inc."

JLK, the newly formed subsidiary of Kennametal, will operate the industrial 
supply business consisting of its wholly owned J&L America, Inc. (J&L) 
subsidiary and its Full Service Supply program.  JLK will market the full 
Kennametal line of metalcutting products, a broad range of metalworking 
tooling and related products, including a full line of cutting tools, carbide 
and other metalworking inserts, abrasives, drills, machine tool accessories 
and other industrial supplies.  The Company will meet the needs of small and 
medium-sized customers through its direct marketing catalog and showroom 
programs and will serve large industrial manufacturers through integrated 
industrial supply programs.

Additionally, on April 25, 1997, Kennametal, through its J&L subsidiary, 
entered into an agreement to acquire all the outstanding stock of the 
Strelinger Company (Strelinger).  Strelinger is based in Troy, Michigan, and 
is engaged in the distribution of metalcutting tools and industrial supplies.  
Strelinger had sales of $30 million in its latest fiscal year and employed 
approximately 85 people.  J&L will pay approximately $4 million in cash and 
will assume certain liabilities totaling $7 million.  The transaction is 
expected to close on April 30, 1997.

Michael W. Ruprich, newly appointed chief executive officer of JLK, stated, 
"This acquisition meets our strategic requirements and will allow us to 
increase our influence in the Midwest, which is one of the largest markets for 
consumable industrial supplies."  Ruprich added, "Strelinger has very positive 
brand name recognition, experienced management and excellent existing 
locations coupled with a strong metalworking focus.  This acquisition will 
give us greater access to customers' tool crib management programs and will 
accelerate our penetration of medium-sized accounts."

Merrill Lynch & Co. and Goldman, Sachs & Co. have been selected as the 
managing underwriters of the offering.  The proposed public offering is 
expected to occur in the second quarter of calendar 1997, subject to market 
conditions.  In addition, JLK will grant to the underwriters a 30-day over-
allotment option to purchase shares of common stock.

A registration statement relating to these securities has been filed with the 
SEC, but has not yet become effective.  These securities may not be sold nor 
may offers to buy be accepted prior to the time the registration statement 
becomes effective.  This news release shall not constitute an offer to sell or 
the solicitation of an offer to buy, nor shall there be any sales of these 
securities in any state in which such offer, solicitation or sale would be 
unlawful prior to registration or qualification under the securities laws of 
any such state.