<ARTICLE> 5 <CIK> 0000049146 <NAME> HUNT MANUFACTURING CO. <CURRENCY> U.S. DOLLARS <MULTIPLIER> 1,000 <PERIOD-TYPE> 3-MOS <FISCAL-YEAR-END> DEC-01-1996 <PERIOD-START> DEC-04-1995 <PERIOD-END> MAR-03-1996 <EXCHANGE-RATE> .00001 <CASH> 2,767 <SECURITIES> 0 <RECEIVABLES> 45,543 <ALLOWANCES> (2,142) <INVENTORY> 37,404 <CURRENT-ASSETS> 90,191 <PP&E> 101,313 <DEPRECIATION> (49,754) <TOTAL-ASSETS> 172,844 <CURRENT-LIABILITIES> 35,850 <BONDS> 73,750 <PREFERRED-MANDATORY> 0 <PREFERRED> 0 <COMMON> 1,615 <OTHER-SE> 50,186 <TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY> 172,844 <SALES> 73,668 <TOTAL-REVENUES> 73,668 <CGS> 46,880 <TOTAL-COSTS> 46,880 <OTHER-EXPENSES> 21,554 <LOSS-PROVISION> 2 <INTEREST-EXPENSE> 875 <INCOME-PRETAX> 4,357 <INCOME-TAX> 1,531 <INCOME-CONTINUING> 2,826 <DISCONTINUED> 0 <EXTRAORDINARY> 0 <CHANGES> 0 <NET-INCOME> 2,826 <EPS-PRIMARY> .22 <EPS-DILUTED> .21