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Stanley 10 Carriage Maker's Rabbet Plane

offered 1869 - 1957

value A$ 170   English models less

Corrugated A$ 300 +

14" or 13" long with  a 2 1/8" cutter.

The plane in the picture has a well-used cutter - a definite minus. Only English cutters are still available new. Old stock American cutters with SW or earlier logos sell for A$ 70 upwards. A cheaper English replacement is ok for work but not a good selling point for a collectible tool. Weak spot is the cheek, it's often cracked. Fixes are usually detectable, even the good ones you can't pick from the outside. The inside always tells because of the lack of japanning or a custom made paint job that hides the fix.

Corrugated models in the 10 series fetch almost double the price of a plane with a smooth sole.  Always check the corrugation. If it looks rough or uneven be suspicious. Same goes for corrugation that looks too good for the plane. Crisp edges are not normal in a well used tool. Note: The 10C was offered for a relatively short period from 1902-1917. That means the plane has to look similar to the one in the picture. All parts have to be correct for the production period.

Stanley 10 1/4 Carriage Maker's Rabbet Plane

offered 1911 - 1942

value A$ 700

Corrugated A$ 1,200

12" long with  a 2 1/8" cutter.

Similar to the 10 with  tilting handle & knob plus added spurs for cross grain cuts. This plane must have been particularly popular in Australia- protector of precious knuckles for scores or carriage builders. The plane always reminds me of a picture of the old Ipswich Railway Workshop with hundreds of tool chests lined up in endless rows of 8 per carriage. I live nearby and over the years have managed to buy a few of those chest and tools. I have never considered it a very hard- to-find plane in Australia. There certainly were a lot more available around here than in America. They still show up quite regularly. Ten years ago I used to consign them to overseas auctions where they would fetch at least double their Australian price. Internet access and direct sales by virtual tool sellers have narrowed the margin considerably.

Weak points: same as # 10. Additional problem: Tilting mechanism not working properly, poor quality handle. Replacement handles are hard to find and never seem to be quite right. Make sure the spurs are not missing.

Stanley 10 1/2 Carriage Maker's Rabbet Plane

offered 1885 - 1964

value A$ 250  post war models and English A$ 150

early model with adjustable throat A$ 350

Corrugated A$ 500 +

9" or 9 1/2" long with  a 2 1/8" cutter.

Early models have an adjustable throat/mouth i.e. the front plate can be moved and fixed in place by tightening the front knob. Usually referred to as type1  but I don't think anybody has come up with a comprehensive type study, yet. All carriage maker's rebate planes have had something of a revival lately - especially this size. Prices in Australia are definitely on the up. If I was an investment adviser, this would be  one of the planes to go for but I'm not. Buying planes as an investment is a long term proposal only.

early model with adjustable front plate