Overview
The No. 4½ is the widest standard smoother, 10 inches long with a 2⅜-inch iron and noticeably more mass than the No. 4. The extra width and weight help it stay flat and take a wide shaving.
Gallery
Click any photo to view it larger. Photographs courtesy of Jim Bode Tools.
Specifications & Variants
The #4½ 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 version of the wide smoother.
A modest premium; less common than the smooth 4½.
An English-market variant with thicker castings and the letter H cast after the number. It never appeared in American catalogs.
Scarce and aimed at the English market, so more a collector item than a user upgrade.
Dimensions are nominal factory figures; casting tolerances vary slightly across types.
Identifying Features
- First fractional size: The earliest No. 4½ planes have no number cast at the toe, predating the 1885 embossing.
- Iron width: The 2⅜-inch iron matches the No. 6 and No. 7.
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
Introduced in 1884, it was Stanley's first fractional size and was likely a response to English infill smoothers. The earliest examples have no number cast at the toe, since they predate the 1885 embossing.
Design
At nearly 5 lbs it is a two-handed smoother that rewards heavier stock and wide boards. Many woodworkers rate it the best surface-finishing plane Stanley made.
For Collectors
Less common than the No. 4 and popular with users, so good examples hold their value. The heavy H variant was an English-market plane with thicker castings.
Market Value
Based on 28 realized sales of the #4½. Prices range from $80 to $295, with a median of $154.
| Condition / grade | Typical range |
|---|---|
| User grade | $80 – $149 |
| Good / Fine | $149 – $175 |
| Fine & better | $175 – $295 |
A favorite among users, so clean examples stay in demand and hold their value well.
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