Vintage Stanley Bailey No. 5 Jack Plane

If you’re only going to have one vintage jack plane on your bench, this is the one.

This Stanley Bailey No. 5 jack plane was acquired as a clean user, then fully gone through: lapped, sharpened, tuned, and given a fresh protective finish. It’s a later Made in USA Bailey with solid hardwood tote and knob, crisp “STANLEY” lever cap, and strong japanning. Set up as a true “ready to work” user, not just a display piece.

Key Details

• Maker / Model: Stanley Bailey No. 5
• Country: Made in U.S.A. (cast in bed and stamped on iron)
• Type: Jack plane – general purpose bench plane
• Length: approx. 14” (see photos with ruler)
• Blade: Original Stanley iron and cap iron, sharpened and ready to go
• Body: Cast iron, “BAILEY” at the toe, “MADE IN USA” behind the knob
• Handles: Original hardwood tote and knob, no cracks, honest small dings from use
• Finish: Japanning largely intact with light edge wear; sides and sole bright and clean
• Condition: Vintage user grade – shows normal marks from decades of use, but no cracks, breaks, or repairs. Mechanically solid and set up to cut.

Work Performed

Metal:

• Completely disassembled, inspected, and cleaned
• Sole and cheeks lapped on a flat reference surface for good contact at toe, mouth, and heel
• Iron back flattened, bevel sharpened and honed; cap iron tuned to seat tightly
• All metal surfaces treated with Ballistol and finished with paste wax for corrosion resistance

Wood:

• Tote and knob cleaned with mineral spirits to remove grime
• Refreshed with boiled linseed oil (BLO) and finished with a beeswax-based wax for a smooth, comfortable feel in the hand

Setup:

• Frog and mouth adjusted for a useful general-purpose cut
• Depth and lateral adjusters work smoothly
• Tested on scrap and taking clean, curly shavings (as shown in photos)

This is not a “barn find” project plane – it’s a tuned, honest vintage tool that’s ready to go back to work as soon as it hits your bench.

Dimensions & Weight (approx.)

• Length: 14 in
• Width at iron: ~2 in
• Weight: typical No. 5 jack (solid but still nimble in use)

Condition Notes

• Expect small cosmetic marks and finish wear consistent with a mid-20th-century user tool.
• Sole shows a clean, even scratch pattern from lapping; no deep pitting.
• Japanning has minor edge wear and a few light flakes, but is largely intact and presentable.
• Handles have small dings and scuffs but are structurally sound and comfortable in use.

Please review all photos carefully—they’re part of the description and show the exact plane you’ll receive.

Shipping & Packaging

• Ships well packed and protected, with the iron backed off and secured for transit.
• I’m happy to combine shipping on multiple tools where possible; just message me before checkout.

If you’ve been hunting for a solid, work-ready Stanley #5 instead of another restoration project, this one is dialed in and ready to earn its keep.