Vintage Stanley Bailey No 4 Smooth Plane - Rare Type 16/17 Transitional WWII

Description

View Vintage Stanley Bailey No 4 Smooth Plane - Rare Type 16/17 Transitional WWII with current marketplace pricing, condition, product images and item details. Cutting Iron: Stamped with the correct Stanley "Notched Rectangle" logo. Model: No. 4 Smooth Bottom. Wood Handles: Features the textbook Type 17 mismatched wood types (hardwood/birch knob and a dark tropical hardwood/purpleheart tote). Item Specifics Brand:  Stanley Bailey Model:  No. 4 Smooth Bottom Type:  Type 16 / Type 17 Transitional (ca. 1942) Country/Region of Manufacture:  United States Original/Reproduction:  Vintage Original Up for sale is a fascinating piece of American woodworking history: a Stanley Bailey No. 4 Smooth Bottom Bench Plane. This specific tool is a highly collectible  Type 16 / Type 17 Transitional model manufacturing right at the dawn of World War II (circa 1942). It beautifully showcases how the Stanley factory adapted to wartime material restrictions, mixing pre-war luxury features with early war-era resourcefulness. Key Features & Transition Details: Large 1.25" Brass Adjustment Wheel:  F eaturing the highly desirable heavy brass adjustment wheel before wartime material restrictions fully kicked in.  The larger wheel style introduced for Type 17, but cast in solid brass before the government-mandated copper and brass bans took effect. Wartime Mismatched Hardwoods:  The rear tote is carved from a dense, dark-maroon exotic hardwood (often identified as Purpleheart or Amaranth) imported by Stanley during domestic timber shortages. The front knob is stained domestic Birch, a textbook example of a WWII-era factory assembly. Foundry Marks:  Features "U" casting marks on both the bed and the frog. The lever cap is smooth/unmarked, showing the classic mixed-stockpile assembly of the early 1940s. Sole:  Smooth bottom configuration. Condition: This plane is in great vintage condition considering its 84 yrs giving it its authentic patina. Cast Iron:  No cracks, chips, or welds detected on the bed, frog, or mouth. Japanning:  The original black interior japanning is incredibly clean, retaining 90%+ coverage across the bed and frog.  Wood Handles:  Features the textbook Type 17 mismatched wood types (hardwood/birch knob and a dark tropical hardwood/purpleheart tote). Both have been professionally refinished, feel wonderful in the hand, and are completely free of cracks or breaks.   Both the tote and knob are structurally solid. Mechanics:  All adjustment threads, lateral lever, and the 1.25" brass wheel operate smoothly. Cutting Iron:  Stamped with the correct Stanley "Notched Rectangle" logo. Condition: Used. Category: Collectibles › Tools, Hardware & Locks › Tools › Carpentry, Woodworking › Planes. Brand: Stanley.

Brand

Stanley

Original/Reproduction

Vintage Original

Country of Origin

United States