Small Stanley block plane SW 103 Anyone use this?

I think i have the same exact plane, which at one point in time may have been my great grandfathers. But i think mine was manufactured by the Ohio tool company … ill take a look tonight when i get in. I havent touched it yet but may clean it up just for nostalgia’s sake. I dont think it would ever be much of a user but cool to have and look at.

Just wait for the summer to come back around and youll be doing what i have … reading the saturday morning paper looking for tag sales with tools. I made it a Saturday morning tradition.

-- "there aren’t many hand tools as awe-inspiring as the #8 jointer. I mean, it just reeks of cast iron heft and hubris" - Smitty

Sure its not one of Stanley’s better models because it has no adjustable mouth, so it is not as versatile, but it can still be a handy block plane for chamfering or anything else. It is very similar to what is commonly called an “apron plane” because you keep it in the pocket of your shop apron and use it more than many other planes. You can’t go wrong for a buck. ;)

-- Galootish log blog, http://www.timberframe-tools.com

If it is sharp you will find a use for it.
Bring it back to condition and try it out.
Worst case scenario, you will have a nice paperweight. :)

Jamie

-- Who is the happiest of men? He who values the merits of others, and in their pleasure takes joy, even as though 'twere his own. --Johann Wolfgang von Goethe

Heck, I’ll pay you 2 dollars for it! Even 5!

-- Div @ the bottom end of Africa. "A woodworker's sharpest tool should be his mind."

Thanks for the input on the plane. Its quite a bit smaller then my other two block planes so I am sure I will find good use for it in real tight areas. I will restore it and post pictures and such when I get it done.

Div – I guess 5 dollars would be a big profit when compared to what I paid for it but I will have to pass. I am too new to collecting hand planes to start selling them now :)

-- Dan - "Collector of Hand Planes"

Nice find. A buck doesn’t even buy a cup of coffee. You might find you will use that little one more than you think.
KEEP collecting.

-- "My mission in life - make everyone smile !"

I have one of these and it is my favorite. It fits nicely in my hand and works very well. I got it from my grandfather about 40 years ago. Just lately I tried to find out the make and model so I could get a replacement iron (mine is a knock-off replacement iron that does not have the proper grooves in the bottom to engage with the levered iron positioner). After a lot of looking, I finally realized that someone (probably my grandfather) had modified the sole, removing about 3/4” from the heel (and with that the model number went too). I am of course missing the knob as well (but that just makes it fit my hand better…).
Here’s a picture of what the bottom of the iron should look like:

If anyone knows where I could find one of these, I’d appreciate it. Mine is 1-5/16 wide by about 3-1/2” long. I understand the original may be wider (like 1-3/8), but this is a good width to allow some angular positioning.

AlBorland19- Since this blog I have actually restored this plane and was able to find a replacement blade. I wrote up a blog about it on this site http://lumberjocks.com/Dcase/blog/22056

The only new replacement blade I have found for this model is made by Pinnacle and you can get it at Woodcraft.com.

-- Dan - "Collector of Hand Planes"