Overview
The No. 5 jack plane is the most useful plane Stanley ever made, produced in enormous numbers. At 14 inches with a 2-inch iron, it is the standard plane for taking rough stock down toward flat and straight.
Gallery
Click any photo to view it larger. Photographs courtesy of Jim Bode Tools.
Specifications & Variants
The #5 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 jack.
Common enough, with a small premium over the smooth No. 5.
Aluminum bed and frog, far lighter than the iron jack. It shared the aluminum smoother's problems: the oxide discolored wood and it cost more than the standard plane.
A short-lived curiosity, scarce because it sold poorly.
Pressed-steel version of the jack, sold to shops with concrete floors where a dropped cast plane would shatter.
Uncommon, and usable if the riveted mouth pieces are tight.
Dimensions are nominal factory figures; casting tolerances vary slightly across types.
Identifying Features
- Iron width: The 2-inch iron is shared with the No. 4 smoother.
- Knob oiler: Some early examples have a built-in oiler beneath the front knob.
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
Cataloged from 1869 to 1984. As the first plane most woodworkers reach for, it sold in huge quantities, so user-grade examples are everywhere and cheap. Some early ones have a built-in oiler beneath the knob.
Design
The 14-inch sole is long enough to start truing an edge yet short enough to hog off material with a cambered iron. The 2-inch iron is shared with the No. 4, so blades and cap irons are easy to find.
For Collectors
So common that condition and type, not scarcity, set the price. It is the natural plane to learn on and the easiest to find cheaply.
As a User Plane
The No. 5 is the first member of the classic three-plane set, working alongside a No. 4 smoother and a No. 7 jointer.
Market Value
Based on 78 realized sales of the #5 (plus corrugated examples). Prices range from $79 to $345, with a median of $115.
| Condition / grade | Typical range |
|---|---|
| User grade | $79 – $100 |
| Good / Fine | $100 – $139 |
| Fine & better | $139 – $345 |
Produced in vast numbers, so user-grade planes are inexpensive and condition drives the price.
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