Stanley Plane Identification: How to Identify Antique Stanley Bailey Hand Plane Age and Type?
By Joshua T. Farnsworth
Below you will find a tool for Stanley plane identification, specifically dating Stanley planes and identifying the type of your Stanley Bailey woodworking bench hand planes. There are other good sites for dating stanley planes (like Patrick’s Blood and Gore), but I’ve tried to make my stanley plane type study the most clear and understandable resource, with plenty of photos to help you understand what you’re looking for. You can also download my free Stanley plane identification PDF chart here. Please be aware: some antique Stanley planes that you buy will be harlequins, or conglomerates of parts from different years, so keep that in mind when listing a Stanley hand plane for sale. Also, stanley type studies like this are most accurate for No. 4 Stanley Bailey Smoothing Planes. This tool does not work for the Stanley Bedrock planes or transitional planes. And it’s important to understand that the type number refers to the manufacturing release, not to the model number. Here is a list of the types and dates of the Stanley planes:
- Stanley Type 1 Handplanes: 1867-1869
- Stanley Type 2 Handplanes: 1869-1872
- Stanley Type 3 Handplanes: 1872-1873
- Stanley Type 4 Handplanes: 1874-1884
- Stanley Type 5 Handplanes: 1885-1888
- Stanley Type 6 Handplanes: 1888-1892
- Stanley Type 7 Handplanes: 1893-1899
- Stanley Type 8 Handplanes: 1899-1902
- Stanley Type 9 Handplanes: 1902-1907
- Stanley Type 10 Handplanes: 1907-1909
- Stanley Type 11 Handplanes: 1910-1918
- Stanley Type 12 Handplanes: 1919-1924
- Stanley Type 13 Handplanes: 1925-1928
- Stanley Type 14 Handplanes: 1929-1930
- Stanley Type 15 Handplanes: 1931-1932
- Stanley Type 16 Handplanes: 1933-1941
- Stanley Type 17 Handplanes: 1942-1945
- Stanley Type 18 Handplanes: 1946-1947
- Stanley Type 19 Handplanes: 1948-1961
- Stanley Type 20 Handplanes: 1962-1967
“How Many Patent Dates do you see behind the handplane frog?”
Search for these Stanley Bailey hand plane Types on eBay:
- Find Stanley Bailey Type 1 Handplanes on eBay
- Find Stanley Bailey Type 2 Handplanes on eBay
- Find Stanley Bailey Type 3 Handplanes on eBay
- Find Stanley Bailey Type 4 Handplanes on eBay
- Find Stanley Bailey Type 5 Handplanes on eBay
- Find Stanley Bailey Type 6 Handplanes on eBay
- Find Stanley Bailey Type 7 Handplanes on eBay
- Find Stanley Bailey Type 8 Handplanes on eBay
- Find Stanley Bailey Type 9 Handplanes on eBay
- Find Stanley Bailey Type 10 Handplanes on eBay
- Find Stanley Bailey Type 11 Handplanes on eBay
- Find Stanley Bailey Type 12 Handplanes on eBay
- Find Stanley Bailey Type 13 Handplanes on eBay
- Find Stanley Bailey Type 14 Handplanes on eBay
- Find Stanley Bailey Type 15 Handplanes on eBay
- Find Stanley Bailey Type 16 Handplanes on eBay
- Find Stanley Bailey Type 17 Handplanes on eBay
- Find Stanley Bailey Type 18 Handplanes on eBay
- Find Stanley Bailey Type 19 Handplanes on eBay
- Find Stanley Bailey Type 20 Handplanes on eBay
Hi guys and ladies I plead total ignorance since I work with steel in my private time. I found a handplane in one of my late Dad’s tool chests. that was unopenend for at least 20+ years. On the “Bottom”, front, it says “Made in USA Bailey” while on the cap it says Stanley. The plane lived on the coast for an unknown time and was rusty. I started to remove rust and old paint and discovered that there was black paint under some blue paint. I suspected some fool smoked something and painted it blue because he liked blue.… Read more »
I was about to add this question on my posting that i just put on here. I have the same plane and i too am wanting to know the date as well. Hope we both can get our planes dated.
I think I have the same plane. How do I see the repies to this question?
I’m replying now Joe!
I don’t know a lot about the history, but what I do know is that at some point, Stanley had bought the bailey company and their patents. They then incorporated bailey into their naming.
Correct Nick, Mr. Bailey came to work with Stanley, along with his patent for the Bailey handplane.
I have acquired a STANLEY N0.1 PLANE. If I use your ident chart it’s a type 1 but I don’t believe it’s that old. How do I age a number 1 plane
Look under the lever cap; only the #1 had the banjo-shaped spring (the small piece of thin metal that makes the lever snap into place when locking in the cutter/ iron). Hope this helps.
Are you able to help me identify my plane. All i can workout it is a bailey no4 sweetheart
I’m having a really hard time finding a Stanley no 5 pre wwII for under 50. It’s looking like people are willing to pay closer to $70 plus $20 shipping on ebay and that’s with them in need of refurbishment. Already cleaned up I’m seeing prices of over $100. Is that now the going rate for these even though there are a ton of them for sale?
Yikes, I hope not! Keep your eyes open, and you’ll find a deal. A friend recently picked up a nice No. 3 for $12 at a flea market. M-WTCA tool swaps are another good source for good deals. And old wooden jack planes work just as well, and are much less expensive.
Would the same type identification process work for the corrugated versions?
Yes sir!
I am an avid woodworker and tool collector.
I am trying to find the value for some of my deceased dad’s tools. He has a lot of Stanley tools, but he has 2 tools that look a lot like hand planes, but have 2 knobs instead of 1 and neither end is raised. Also, the opening at the bottom is 3-3.5″ wide. They are about 10″ long. I don’t see any manufacturer on the tools, but they do say “made in the USA” and each has a number. They are 2670911? (I’m not sure about this one, but seems right) and 2679911. Any help would be greatly appreciated!
Try posting this question to our forum: https://woodandshop.com/forum/
I have a #4 type 10 bailey that i found out on the listing from this site. However, there is a W machined mark on the right front side with 2 notches on the hump half way up. Can any one tell me what kind of plane I’ve got. A old man gave it to me after i tore down a termite infested car port when i was 23. I am wanting to start using hand tools more and teach both of my Grandsons wood working without using power tool. I found the plane while cleaning up my garage and… Read more »
Try posting a photo with this question to our forum: https://woodandshop.com/forum/
“Please be aware: some antique Stanley planes that you buy will be harlequins, or conglomerates of parts from different years” Not quite so. Be warned: there follows a bit of an investigation. I picked up a couple of new/old planes today for $30CAD the pair – one Salmen’s #5, and one battered old Stanley rusted up enough that the blade adjuster wouldn’t turn. Was excited to find a corrugated base though, so first thing I did when I got home was zip straight off to your excellent identification tool. Delighted to find that it really did seem quite old. Zero… Read more »
I just got a wooden either jointer or smoothing pane. I collect antique planes This one has *FS&W* stamped into the end but I have been unable to find anything about it or the company. Its pretty beat up but I am going to try and restore it. Have you ever heard of them?
Are you sure it doesn’t say PS&W?