Stanley bench plane type study

Stanley Type 5 (1885–1888)

First type with a lateral adjustment lever. Lever is a plain one-piece lever without a roller.

1885–1888
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Fastest way to spot one

First type with a lateral adjustment lever
Lever is a plain one-piece lever without a roller

Features in detail

Lateral adjustment	Introduced. Everything from here on has a lateral lever; anything without one is 1884 or earlier. high
Lateral lever form	One-piece, no roller on the end. medium

Notes

The lateral lever is the cleanest single dividing line in the whole study, and it is visible in a phone photo from across a table.

Before you trust this

Type dates are approximate and adjacent types overlap. Stanley emptied parts bins before opening new ones, so a plane can legitimately carry features from two types at once. Date the body casting, treat the iron and hardware separately, and expect a window rather than a year.

Go back to the full type study, or read the dating marks table.

Sources

reference-site
Stanley Bench Plane Type Study (Types 1-20) — Patrick Leach

Models this type applies to

Stanley No. 1 Smoothing Plane

1867–1943 · 5-1/2" · 1-1/4"

The smallest bench plane Stanley made, and the one every collector wants.
Stanley No. 2 Smoothing Plane

1869–1961 · 7" · 1-5/8"

The smallest Bailey with a tote.
Stanley No. 3 Smoothing Plane

1869–1984 · 8" · 1-3/4"

A smoother one size down from the No. 4, and the size most people find comfortable once they have used both.
Stanley No. 4 Smoothing Plane

1869–1984 · 9" · 2"

The most-produced bench plane in history and the default smoother in every workshop that has one.
Stanley No. 4-1/2 Smoothing Plane

1884–1967 · 10" · 2-3/8"

A wide, heavy smoother.
Stanley No. 5 Jack Plane

1869–1984 · 14" · 2"

The jack plane - the jack of all trades, and the plane most likely to be in a box at an estate sale.
Stanley No. 6 Fore Plane

1869–1975 · 18" · 2-3/8"

The fore plane sits between the jack and the jointer.
Stanley No. 7 Jointer Plane

1869–1984 · 22" · 2-3/8"

The standard jointer, and the plane that makes hand-cut edge joints possible.
Stanley No. 8 Jointer Plane

1869–1960 · 24" · 2-5/8"

The largest Bailey bench plane: two feet of sole and the widest iron in the range.