SMITH INTERNATIONAL, INC.

                       SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                             WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549

                                    FORM 8-K

                                 CURRENT REPORT

                     PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE
                         SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934


                                 APRIL 23, 2004
                                 DATE OF REPORT
                        (Date of earliest event reported)



                            SMITH INTERNATIONAL, INC.
             (Exact name of Registrant as specified in its charter)



          DELAWARE                       1-8514                 95-3822631
(State or other jurisdiction of       (Commission            (I.R.S. Employer
 incorporation or organization)       File Number)          Identification No.)


                      411 N. SAM HOUSTON PARKWAY, SUITE 600
                                 HOUSTON, TEXAS
                    (Address of principal executive offices)


                                      77060
                                   (Zip Code)


                                 (281) 443-3370
              (Registrant's telephone number, including area code)

ITEM 7. FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND EXHIBITS

      (c)   Exhibit

            99.1  Press Release dated April 23, 2004 with respect to the
                  Registrant's financial results for the quarter ended March 31,
                  2004.

ITEM 12. DISCLOSURE OF RESULTS OF OPERATIONS AND FINANCIAL CONDITION

      A copy of the press release dated April 23, 2004, announcing the
Registrant's financial results for the quarter ended March 31, 2004 is furnished
as Exhibit 99.1 to this report on form 8-K, and is incorporated herein by
reference.

      The information in this report is being furnished, not filed, pursuant to
Item 12 of Form 8-K. Accordingly, the information in Item 12 of this report and
Exhibit 99.1 will not be incorporated by reference into any registration
statement filed by the Registrant under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended,
unless specifically identified therein as being incorporated therein by
reference.

                                   SIGNATURES

      Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the
Registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the
undersigned hereunto duly authorized.

                                     SMITH INTERNATIONAL, INC.

                                     /s/ NEAL S. SUTTON
                                     --------------------------------------
                                     By: Neal S. Sutton
                                     Senior Vice President - Administration,
                                     General Counsel and Secretary

Date: April 23, 2004

                                  EXHIBIT INDEX




    EXHIBIT NO.            DESCRIPTION
    -----------            -----------

        99.1               Press Release by the Registrant dated April 23, 2004.