Sec Form 4 Filing - BLANKENSHIP GEORGE D @ LINCOLN ELECTRIC HOLDINGS INC - 2013-02-27

FORM 4 Check this box if no longer subject to Section 16. Form 4 or Form 5 obligations may continue. See Instruction 1(b).

UNITED STATES SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION Washington, D.C. 20549 STATEMENT OF CHANGES IN BENEFICIAL OWNERSHIP Filed pursuant to Section 16(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, Section 17(a) of the Public Utility Holding Company Act of 1935 or Section 30(h) of the Investment Company Act of 1940

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1. Name and Address of Reporting Person BLANKENSHIP GEORGE D 2. Issuer Name and Ticker or Trading Symbol LINCOLN ELECTRIC HOLDINGS INC [ LECO] 5. Relationship of Reporting Person(s) to Issuer (Check all applicable) _____ Director _____ 10% Owner X __ Officer (give title below) _____ Other (specify below) Sr. VP; President, LE N. Am. (Last) (First) (Middle) 22801 ST. CLAIR AVENUE 3. Date of Earliest Transaction (MM/DD/YY) 02/27/2013 (Street) CLEVELAND, OH44117-1199 4. If Amendment, Date Original Filed (MM/DD/YY) 6. Individual or Joint/Group Filing (Check Applicable Line) __ X __ Form filed by One Reporting Person _____ Form filed by More than One Reporting Person (City) (State) (Zip)

Table I - Non-Derivative Securities Acquired, Disposed of, or Beneficially Owned 1.Title of Security (Instr. 3) 2. Transaction Date (MM/DD/YY) 2A. Deemed Execution Date, if any (MM/DD/YY) 3. Transaction Code (Instr. 8) 4. Securities Acquired (A) or Disposed of (D) (Instr. 3, 4 and 5) 5. Amount of Securities Beneficially Owned Following Reported Transaction(s) (Instr. 3 and 4) 6. Ownership Form: Direct (D) or Indirect (I) (Instr. 4) 7. Nature of Indirect Beneficial Ownership (Instr. 4) Code V Amount (A) or (D) Price Common Shares 02/27/2013 M 14,800 A $ 19.965 59,115 D Common Shares 02/27/2013 S 14,800 D 44,315 D Common Shares 02/28/2013 M 8,860 A $ 30.255 53,175 D Common Shares 02/28/2013 M 12,400 A $ 21.985 65,575 D Common Shares 02/28/2013 S 21,260 D $ 56.2826 ( 2 ) 44,315 ( 3 ) D Common Shares 6,559.199 ( 4 ) I by 401(k)

Table II - Derivative Securities Acquired, Disposed of, or Beneficially Owned ( e.g. , puts, calls, warrants, options, convertible securities) 1. Title of Derivative Security (Instr. 3) 2. Conversion or Exercise Price of Derivative Security 3. Transaction Date (MM/DD/YY) 3A. Deemed Execution Date, if any (MM/DD/YY) 4. Transaction Code (Instr. 8) 5. Number of Derivative Securities Acquired (A) or Disposed of (D) (Instr. 3, 4, and 5) 6. Date Exercisable and Expiration Date (MM/DD/YY) 7. Title and Amount of Underlying Securities (Instr. 3 and 4) 8. Price of Derivative Security (Instr. 5) 9. Number of Derivative Securities Beneficially Owned Following Reported Transaction(s) (Instr. 4) 10. Ownership Form of Derivative Security: Direct (D) or Indirect (I) (Instr. 4) 11. Nature of Indirect Beneficial Ownership (Instr. 4) Code V (A) (D) Date Exercisable Expiration Date Title Amount or Number of Shares Employee Stock Option (Right to Buy) $ 19.965 02/27/2013 M 14,800 11/30/2008 11/30/2015 Common Shares 14,800 $ 0 0 D Employee Stock Option (Right to Buy) $ 30.255 02/28/2013 M 8,860 11/29/2009 11/29/2016 Common Shares 8,860 $ 0 0 D Employee Stock Option (Right to Buy) $ 21.985 02/28/2013 M 12,400 12/03/2011 12/03/2018 Common Shares 12,400 $ 0 0 D

Reporting Owners Reporting Owner Name / Address Relationships Director 10% Owner Officer Other BLANKENSHIP GEORGE D 22801 ST. CLAIR AVENUE CLEVELAND, OH44117-1199 Sr. VP; President, LE N. Am. Signatures /s/ Jennifer I. Ansberry, Jennifer I. Ansberry as Attorney-in-Fact for George D. Blankenship 03/01/2013 Signature of Reporting Person Date

Explanation of Responses:

( 1 )100 sold at $55.32; 400 sold at $55.34; 100 sold at $55.35; 100 sold at $55.36; 200 sold at $55.39; 100 sold at $55.41; 400 sold at $55.42; 900 sold at $55.43; 200 sold at $55.44; 400 sold at $55.45; 200 sold at $55.46; 1300 sold at $55.47; 100 sold at $55.48; 831 sold at $55.49; 6900 sold at $55.50;400 sold at $55.51; 300 sold at $55.52; 100 sold at $55.53; 100 sold at $55.54;100 sold at $55.55; 100 sold at $55.62; $100 sold at $55.67; 69 sold at $55.68;200 sold at $55.69; 200 sold at $55.71; 100 sold at $55.73; 200 sold at $55.79; 400 sold at $55.80; 100 sold at $55.81; and 100 sold at $55.82. ( 2 )This transaction was executed in multiple trades at prices ranging from $56.10 to $56.57. The price reported reflects the weighted average sale price. The reporting person hereby undertakes to provide upon request to the SEC staff, the issuer or a security holder of the issuer full information regarding the number of shares and prices at which the transaction was effected. ( 3 )2140 shares are held as Joint Tenants - George D. Blankenship and Karen Blankenship (spouse). ( 4 )Held by trustee pursuant to The Lincoln Electric Company 401(k) plan. Holdings are reported on a unitized basis, which amount represents 5,479.123 shares.

Reminder: Report on a separate line for each class of securities beneficially owned directly or indirectly.

* If the form is filed by more than one reporting person, see Instruction 4(b)(v).

** Intentional misstatements or omissions of facts constitute Federal Criminal Violations. See 18 U.S.C. 1001 and 15 U.S.C. 78ff(a).

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