Overview
The No. 2 is a 7-inch smoother with a 1⅝-inch iron. It is larger than the No. 1 but still small for general work, valued more by collectors than used at the bench.
Gallery
Click any photo to view it larger. Photographs courtesy of Jim Bode Tools.
Specifications & Variants
The #2 base size and its factory variants, with the sole length, cutter width, weight, and years of production for each.
The standard cast-iron version that the variants below are based on.
Corrugated sole. Extremely scarce, since lengthwise grooves add little to a plane this small.
Very rare. Watch for fraudulent machined grooves passed off as factory corrugations.
Dimensions are nominal factory figures; casting tolerances vary slightly across types.
Identifying Features
- No frog screw: No No. 2 was fitted with a frog adjusting screw.
- Brass nut: A shallow, concave brass adjusting nut is characteristic of the size.
- Iron width: The 1⅝-inch iron is unique to the No. 2.
Dating is shared across all sizes. Use the identification guide and the quick-reference table to pin down your plane's type.
History & Design
History
Produced from 1869 to 1961. No example has a frog adjusting screw, and it kept a distinctive shallow, concave brass adjusting nut. A late, slightly longer variant turns up now and then.
Design
At 7 inches it suits small or delicate work and a smaller hand. The 1⅝-inch iron is unique to this size, so a correct replacement is harder to find than the common widths.
For Collectors
Clean, complete No. 2s are scarce and priced accordingly. The corrugated No. 2C is rarer still.
Market Value
Based on 7 realized sales of the #2. Prices range from $195 to $395, with a median of $295.
| Condition / grade | Typical range |
|---|---|
| User grade | $195 – $265 |
| Good / Fine | $265 – $325 |
| Fine & better | $325 – $395 |
Scarce and collectible, so even user-grade examples carry a premium over the larger common sizes.
These are past sale prices gathered from Jim Bode Tools, not a current appraisal. What any given plane is worth depends mostly on its condition and type.
Sources & Credits
Patrick's Blood & Gore
Primary reference for plane history, dimensions, and collector notes.
supertool.com/StanleyBG