Reply by BubbaIBA

”..I for one hate changing blades. I’ve planed pieces that take 3 different planes in the same piece. I’d hate 3 different blades for that, especially when a GOOD Stanley #4 is about $50. A LOT less if you can restore.”

I agree and will add adjusting frogs for different thickness cuts are also a PITA, much easier to just pick up a plane that is already set. Good early type Bailey planes are so inexpensive it is easy to have them set for a job and if the task changes pick up a plane that has the iron and frog already adjusted for the new task. It is more efficient and cost effective. A well fretted early Bailey pattern plane works every bit as well as a Bedrock pattern and you will have about the same money in 3 or 4 Baileys as a single LV or LN. BTW, I don’t shy away from type 9 or earlier because once I have the frog set for a iron and thickness it doesn’t get changed.

If you want new, the Woodriver #’s 3 through 6 planes are a great value, other than the pleasure of owning a LN and having the plane work well out of the box there is not much reason to spend the extra money for either a LN or a LV.