tongue and groove plane.

Lie Neilson

which Stanley is it—a 48 or a 49?
They are designed to center on two different thicknesses of stock.

Stanley, without hesitation.

-- Don't anthropomorphize your handplanes. They hate it when you do that. - OldTools Archive -

It is a 38, the larger one for 3/4” stock…

For those who answered, what’s your reasoning?

-- I'm strictly hand-tool only...unless the power tool is faster and easier!

Stanley, without hesitation.

Ditto.

Because it will do the same job for $130 less, it has some history, it has some character.

-- http://timetestedtools.net - Collecting is an investment in the past, and the future.

What Don said, plus the #48 performs exceptionally well. Make certain it is complete with irons and is wart-free (no damage) and it’s a deal at that price.

-- Don't anthropomorphize your handplanes. They hate it when you do that. - OldTools Archive -

12 strings… You just heard from a couple guys with vast hand plane knowledge and experience.

You came looking for sound advice, and found it. If Don and Smitty say go with the Stanley (with the caveat that it be complete and in good usable condition) then I would heed their advice.

FWIW, I’m looking for that exact plane. If you decide to go Lie Neilsen, maybe you could tell me your source?..
;-)

-- Support woodworking hand models. Buy me a sawstop.

Buckethead, It is just a local antique store in my town. it’s been sitting in a display cabinet for nearly a year. I plan to go ask to take it out and look at it later today to make sure it has all its parts.

I tried the Lie Neilson at WWIA last fall, and really liked it, but I’m stingy with money, so If I think I can get the funcionality for less, I’ll get the stanley.

-- I'm strictly hand-tool only...unless the power tool is faster and easier!

Ok, feeling silly now…I went to look at the plane, and realized my memory was faulty…

...It is actually a UNION no.41 T&G plane…So…Is it still worth getting?

-- I'm strictly hand-tool only...unless the power tool is faster and easier!

I’m unfamiliar. Any pics?

I have union planes that are at least equal to their Stanley counterparts, if that helps. Bench planes though.

-- Support woodworking hand models. Buy me a sawstop.

I’ve got that Union. Great plane, and the equal of the Stanley.

-- ian | "You can't stop what's coming. It ain't all waiting on you. That's vanity."

I had a Union for a short while, compared favorably with the Stanley (nearly identical, actually). I’d suggest an offer in the $40-$50 range, especially since it’s been there a while.

-- Don't anthropomorphize your handplanes. They hate it when you do that. - OldTools Archive -

Consider this excerpt on the Stanley #48, lifted from Patrick Leach’s Blood & Gore (www.supertool.com):

“There are some very scarce models of this plane, made by Union Manufacturing Company of New Britain, Connecticut, which Stanley modified and then sold under their name (Stanley had a ‘incestuous’ relationship with Union and finally bought out their entire plane line ca. 1920). These planes resemble the later nickel plated Stanley-manufactured #48’s, but have black japanning in the depressions of the tote and the fence. Stanley ground off the UNION name (cast in the handle) and their model numbers (cast in the fence) from the plane, and then filled the areas with the japanning. Remnants of the Stanley decal can sometimes be found applied to the japanned area of the handle. They also did the same treatment on the narrower #49’s made by Union.”

If you can get it for $40-$50, grab it and smile all the way home. If they won’t move on the price, you should still buy it.

-- Dave, Colonie, NY

My KeenKutter version.