COMPX INTERNATIONAL INC.
                                  PRESS RELEASE



FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:                                CONTACT:

CompX International Inc.                              David A. Bowers
Three Lincoln Centre                                  Chief Executive Officer
5430 LBJ Freeway, Suite 1700                          Tel.:  864.286.1122
Dallas, Texas   75240-2697


             COMPX SUSPENDS REGULAR QUARTERLY DIVIDEND AND ANNOUNCES
                     RESULTS OF ANNUAL STOCKHOLDERS MEETING


     DALLAS, TEXAS . . . May 19, 2003 . . . CompX International Inc. (NYSE: CIX)
announced today that its board of directors  suspended CompX's regular quarterly
dividend  of twelve and  one-half  cents  ($0.125)  per share on its class A and
class B common stock, based on the board's evaluation of CompX's current results
of operations.

     "Our board has  concluded  that  suspending  the  dividend  at this time is
financially prudent given the continued  challenging economic conditions and our
recent results of operations," said David A. Bowers, CompX's president and chief
executive  officer.  "We have focused  significant  effort on cutting  costs and
reducing working capital requirements and we will continue these initiatives. We
believe we are well positioned to take advantage of  opportunities as they arise
and that the annual cash  retention of $7.6 million from the  suspension  of the
dividend will enhance our ability to continue to further  strengthen our balance
sheet and consider investments that will increase long-term stockholder value."

     CompX also  announced  that its  stockholders  at the  annual  stockholders
meeting  held  today  elected  seven  directors  for terms of one year.  CompX's
directors are: Paul M. Bass,  Jr., David A. Bowers,  Keith R. Coogan,  Edward J.
Hardin, Ann Manix, Glenn R. Simmons and Steven L. Watson.

     CompX is a leading  manufacturer  of ergonomic  computer  support  systems,
precision ball bearing slides and security products.

     Statements  in this  release  relating to matters  that are not  historical
facts  are  forward-looking   statements  based  upon  management's  belief  and
assumptions using currently available  information.  Although CompX believes the
expectations  reflected in such  forward-looking  statements are reasonable,  it
cannot give any  assurances  that these  expectations  will prove to be correct.
Such statements,  by their nature,  involve  substantial risks and uncertainties
that could  significantly  impact  expected  results,  and actual future results
could differ materially from those described in such forward-looking statements.
While it is not possible to identify all factors,  CompX  continues to face many
risks and  uncertainties.  Among the  factors  that could  cause  actual  future
results to differ materially  include,  but are not limited to, general economic
and  political  conditions,   demand  for  office  furniture,  service  industry
employment  levels,  competitive  products and prices,  fluctuations in currency
exchange rates,  the introduction of trade barriers,  potential  difficulties in
integrating completed acquisitions and other risks and uncertainties detailed in
CompX's Securities and Exchange Commission filings.  Should one or more of these
risks materialize (or the consequences of such a development  worsen), or should
the  underlying  assumptions  prove  incorrect,   actual  results  could  differ
materially  from those  forecast or expected.  CompX  disclaims any intention or
obligation to publicly update or revise such  statements  whether as a result of
new information, future events or otherwise.

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