Exhibit 31.1

                                 CERTIFICATIONS


I, Markos I. Tambakeras, certify that:

1.      I have reviewed this quarterly report on Form 10-Q of Kennametal Inc.;

2.      Based on my knowledge, this report does not contain any untrue statement
of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary to make the
statements made, in light of the circumstances under which such statements were
made, not misleading with respect to the period covered by this report;

3.      Based on my knowledge, the financial statements, and other financial
information included in this report, fairly present in all material respects the
financial condition, results of operations and cash flows of the registrant as
of, and for, the periods presented in this report;

4.      The registrant's other certifying officer and I are responsible for
establishing and maintaining disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in
Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e)) for the registrant and have:

        a)      Designed such disclosure controls and procedures, or caused such
        disclosure controls and procedures to be designed under our supervision,
        to ensure that material information relating to the registrant,
        including its consolidated subsidiaries, is made known to us by others
        within those entities, particularly during the period in which this
        report is being prepared;

        b)      [omitted in accordance with SEC Release No. 33-8238/34-47986]

        c)      Evaluated the effectiveness of the registrant's disclosure
        controls and procedures and presented in this report our conclusions
        about the effectiveness of the disclosure controls and procedures, as of
        the end of the period covered by this report based on such evaluation;
        and

        d)      Disclosed in this report any change in the registrant's internal
        control over financial reporting that occurred during the registrant's
        most recent fiscal quarter (the registrant's fourth fiscal quarter in
        the case of an annual report) that has materially affected, or is
        reasonably likely to materially affect the registrant's internal control
        over financial reporting; and

5.      The registrant's other certifying officer and I have disclosed, based on
our most recent evaluation of internal control over financial reporting, to the
registrant's auditors and the audit committee of the registrant's board of
directors (or persons performing the equivalent functions):

        a)      All significant deficiencies and material weaknesses in the
        design or operation of internal control over financial reporting which
        are reasonably likely to adversely affect the registrant's ability to
        record, process, summarize and report financial information; and

        b)      Any fraud, whether or not material, that involves management or
        other employees who have a significant role in the registrant's internal
        control over financial reporting.


Date: November 14, 2003
                                                 /s/ MARKOS I. TAMBAKERAS
                                                 ------------------------------
                                                 Markos I. Tambakeras
                                                 Chairman, President and
                                                 Chief Executive Officer



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