Vintage Stanley Handyman H104 Bench Plane

This is a vintage Stanley Handyman No. H104 bench plane from the 1960s, part of Stanley’s mid-century “Handyman” line. It has the distinctive blue body, red lever cap, and molded tote marked “STANLEY HANDYMAN – No. H104”, with “MADE IN U.S.A.” cast into the bed.

It’s been fully cleaned, sharpened, and test-cut. It’s not a premium Bailey or Bed Rock, but it is a fun, very usable little smoother/jack for light shop work or as a collectible example of the short-run H104 “Ready-Edge” design.

Condition

Please check all photos carefully; they are part of the description.

• Body: No cracks, breaks, or repairs. Casting is sound and true.
• Finish: Original blue finish on the body is mostly present with honest wear and small dings from use. The red lever cap retains strong color.
• Tote & knob: Original molded tote and knob are solid. There is noticeable finish wear and scuffing, especially on the top edges of the tote and on the knob, but no structural damage. Handyman logo and “No. H104” are still crisp and legible.
• Sole: Lapped flat and smooth. Clean, with visible scratch pattern and light staining / peppering from age, but no pitting in the working area (see close-up photos).
• Iron & chipbreaker: Original iron with light staining only. Edge is clean and sharp; tiny nick from as-found condition has been ground out. Chipbreaker seats tightly.
• Hardware: Nickel on the adjuster wheels shows small freckles and discoloration but functions smoothly. All screws are present and correct.

Overall, this is in good vintage user condition with honest cosmetic wear but no functional issues.

Work Performed (Moab Maverick Tools shop notes)

• Lapped the sole to ensure flat bearing surfaces at toe, ahead of the mouth, and heel.
• Fully disassembled and cleaned with mineral spirits and a nylon brush.
• Used WD-40 and a 3M pad / steel brush on metal parts and threads to remove light rust and grime.
• Flattened and sharpened the iron on both ends, then honed to a working edge.
• Sanded tote and knob with 320 grit to smooth rough spots while preserving original character.
• Lubricated metal with Ballistol, and adjustment threads with a micro-dot of Hoppe’s.
• Finished tote and knob with Tried & True oil and a beeswax top coat.
• Waxed metal surfaces with paste wax for glide and rust protection.
• Reassembled, tuned, and test-planed; see the sample shavings in the photos.

Ready to go back to work out of the box—just set the depth to your preference and go.

Approximate Specs

• Overall length: ~9 1/2 in (24 cm)
• Iron width: ~1 5/8 in
• Markings:
• Tote: “STANLEY HANDYMAN – No. H104”
• Bed: “MADE IN U.S.A.”
• Era: Mid-1960s (H104 was produced only briefly in this period)
• Use: Light bench work / smoothing; also a nice addition to a Stanley or Handyman collection.

(Measurements are approximate, taken off a bench rule.)

Shipping & Other Notes

• Tool will be carefully packed and shipped insured.
• I lightly oil and wax tools before packing; a quick wipe-down after unpacking is normal.
• This is a vintage tool with cosmetic wear consistent with age and normal shop use, not a factory-new item.

If you have any questions or want additional measurements or photos, feel free to message me—happy to help you decide if this H104 is the right fit for your bench or collection.