Vintage Stanley Bailey No. 4 smoothing plane – tuned user bench plane, 1950s Made in USA

Vintage Stanley Bailey No. 4 smoothing plane made in the USA, cleaned, tuned, and test-cut as a ready-to-use bench plane. The sole has been lapped flat, the iron sharpened, and the chipbreaker fitted tight, while the original black-painted knob and tote keep their mid-century shop patina. It’s a solid user-grade smoother from the 1950s, packed with a printed care sheet so it’s ready to go straight to the bench.

Overview

This is a vintage Stanley Bailey No. 4 bench plane, made in the USA and set up as a daily-use smoother. It has the later high front knob, orange “STANLEY” lever cap, and black-painted hardwood knob and tote typical of mid-century Stanley production. The plane has been fully torn down, cleaned, de-rusted, lapped, sharpened, and test-cut so it’s ready to make shavings instead of starting as a project.

You’ll also receive a printed care sheet with tips for keeping vintage planes clean, sharp, and working well over the long haul.

Tool details

Model: Stanley Bailey No. 4 smoothing plane (smooth bottom)
Origin: Made in U.S.A. (marked on the iron)
Body length: approx. 9” (see photo with ruler)
Iron width: approx. 2”
Adjustments: brass depth adjuster, lateral adjuster, adjustable frog
Handles: original hardwood knob and tote, black factory paint with worn-through areas
Approximate era: likely late 1940s–1950s; Etsy decade listed as 1950s

Condition

Body & sole

Cast iron body is sound with no cracks or repairs.
Sole has been lapped on a granite reference surface so it bears well at toe, ahead of the mouth, and at the heel. Light staining and fine, shallow scratches remain from its working life.
Edges of the sole are lightly eased to reduce track marks in use.

Japanning and hardware

Original japanning is present with normal wear in high-touch areas around the mouth and heel.
Brass depth adjuster and other hardware show honest wear but turn smoothly after cleaning and lubrication.
Lever cap is the correct Stanley pattern with orange “STANLEY” background and a clean working surface where it bears on the iron.

Iron & chipbreaker

Stanley iron stamped “[STANLEY] MADE IN U.S.A.” with plenty of life left.
Back of the iron has been flattened at the edge and the bevel reground and honed to a sharp working edge.
Chipbreaker nose has been dressed and fitted to the iron until no light shows at the interface to help control tear-out and keep shavings flowing.

Knob & tote

Original hardwood knob and tote are structurally solid with no active cracks.
Black factory finish shows significant cosmetic wear, especially on the knob, with attractive alligatoring and worn-through areas that show the wood underneath. These were cleaned, lightly sanded, treated with Tried & True oil, and finished with beeswax rather than stripped, so the mid-century character is intact.
Tote screw had excess length that prevented it from clamping the tote tightly; the screw was shortened slightly on the grinder and re-chamfered so the tote now locks down firmly with no play.

Expect an honest working tool with visible patina and finish wear, not a replated or repainted showpiece.

Restoration work performed

Complete disassembly and inspection for damage or missing parts
Loose dust and debris removed with brush and air, then metal parts degreased with mineral spirits
Rust removal via Evapo-Rust soak on iron and selected screws, followed by 3M pad with oil/WD-40 to blend surfaces while preserving original japanning
Sole lapped on a granite reference block with progressive grits; edges slightly eased
Iron back flattened at the edge, bevel sharpened and honed to a fine, shaving-sharp edge
Chipbreaker tuned for tight contact, checked against a light source
Tote screw shortened slightly and re-chamfered so the tote clamps securely without wobble
All metal treated with Ballistol and a micro-dot of Hoppe’s on the depth and frog adjuster threads, then finished with paste wax for corrosion resistance and a dry feel
Knob and tote cleaned with mineral spirits, lightly sanded with 320 grit, finished with Tried & True oil and beeswax
Final assembly, adjustment, and test shavings taken (sample curls shown in the photos)

Ideal use

This No. 4 is set up as a general-purpose smoother for:

Taking light finishing passes after the jack or jointer
Cleaning up machine marks on furniture parts and panels
Everyday bench work for woodworkers who want a true vintage Stanley that’s already tuned and ready to go

It’s a good fit if you want a reliable working tool with mid-century character instead of a brand-new replica.

Shipping & packaging

Ships from the USA. The iron will be retracted and protected to keep the edge safe in transit.
Packed in a sturdy box with padding so the plane arrives ready to work, not ready for another restoration.
Combined shipping can be arranged if you pick up more than one vintage tool from the shop.

Bullet highlights

Vintage Stanley Bailey No. 4 smooth-bottom bench plane
Made in USA, mid-century Type 19–era example
Fully disassembled, cleaned, de-rusted, and tuned as a user
Sole lapped on a flat reference surface, edges eased
Stanley iron sharpened; chipbreaker fitted tight with no light gap
Correct orange-logo “STANLEY” lever cap
Original black-painted knob and tote with worn but solid finish
Tote secured with adjusted screw; no handle wobble
Finished with Ballistol and paste wax for corrosion protection
Includes a printed care sheet for maintaining vintage planes
Ready for the bench as a working smoother, not just wall decor