Bench&Brace

Stanley

Stanley No. 2 Smoothing Plane

The smallest Bailey with a tote. Awkward for an adult hand and never a big seller, which is why it commands collector money despite a ninety-year production run.

  • 1869–1961
  • Bench Plane
  • high confidence
Specifications
ModelNo. 2
Production1869–1961
Sole length7"
Cutter width1-5/8"
Bodycast iron, japanned
Handlesrosewood knob and tote

How to identify it

  • 7 inch sole, 1-5/8 inch iron, and a full tote - that combination is unique to the No. 2.
  • A corrugated version (No. 2C) exists and is scarcer still.
  • Type dating follows the standard Bailey study.
Photograph needed: Stanley No. 2 Smoothing Plane - overall view, plus a close-up of the toe and bed markings
No image is published here until its rights are cleared. Sourcing policy.

The same size from other makers

These do the same job at the same size. Parts do not interchange between makers, but the shaving does not know the difference - and where one maker commands a collector premium, another usually does not.

MakerCalledMade
Millers FallsNo. 71929–1975
SargentNo. 4071887–1964
StanleyNo. 6021898–1943
StanleyNo. 151876–1955
StanleyNo. 191888–1950
StanleyNo. 651898–1969
StanleyNo. 2201898–1984
StanleyNo. 941898–1960

Every size, every maker

Dating this plane

This maker published no dating information, so collectors reconstructed one. Work from the body casting rather than the knob, tote or iron, all of which get replaced. The Stanley type study lists the features era by era, with a dating marks table at the foot of it.

What it is worth

  • user / incomplete $90–$180
  • complete, honest wear $200–$400
  • excellent, early type $450–$900

Estimated USD range as of 2026-Q1, from a sample of about 60 sales. manually filtered sold listings Confidence: medium.

These are researched estimates for a private sale in average light, not an appraisal. Condition, completeness and type move a price further than any of these bands do.

Sources

Others in this family