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Adam Craftsman Fore Plane
June 9th, 2005 04:34 PM
June 8, 2005 Craftsman Fore Plane


I just received my Craftsman 18 inch long "Fore" plane I won on eBay.

As wood planes get longer, the width of their blades increase from the standard 2 inches to 2-3/8 inches. I have only two other wide 2-3/8 inch wide planes. One is a 22 inch Stanley number 7 Try plane that has a cracked cheek with a plate patch, best kept as a display than a user. The other plane is a Stanley number 4-1/2 Smoothing plane, this is definitely a user tool. It‛s plastic and steel composite adjusting knob identifies it as a WWII vintage tool, when brass was not being used domestically.

This latest plane has the Craftsman "Royal Crown" logo sunk into its Cap Iron and "Made in USA" proudly displayed in raised letters just behind the front knob.

The handles are stained wood that resemble Rosewood color (reddish). But standard Philips screws are used to secure the handles.

It has a steel depth adjustment knob, instead of the more common brass knob. But, it has all the beautiful detail of the brass version (3 sets of straight knurls), with a sunken face.

The Emerald Green stock Craftsman tool finish is all be gone. In collector‛s terms it has maybe 5% finish (referred to as Japanning for the Stanley black finished tools).

The most intriguing feature of the plane is there is not only a corrugated sole (thought to break the "vacuum" formed when planing wood), both sides are corrugated too.

The plane's OEM is probably not Stanley. Maybe Millers Falls?

I think this is the longest wood plane Craftsman ever sold. The 22 inch Try plane and 26 inch Jointer plane are no where to be found in the old Craftsman tool catalogs.

All this for about $34.
Follow Ups:

Contact OEM? by Joe 2005-06-10 06:26:58

In 1949 by Adam 2005-06-10 09:46:51

Planes in 1957 by Adam 2005-06-17 03:16:20
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