Stanley · No. 2 · 1869–1961
The No. 2 is the small smoother, 7 inches long with a 1⅝-inch iron, and Stanley made it from 1869 to 1961. A Stanley catalog line Patrick Leach quotes says its short length lets it find small uneven spots, and it's handy on small pieces or a patch of stubborn grain where a No. 4 is too much. It's scarce next to the bigger sizes, which is why collectors chase it. The No. 2 also went its own way on the Type Study. None have patent dates cast behind the frog, none got the frog adjusting screw, and its brass depth nut is shallower than the others. Late in production Stanley made a scarce version about half an inch longer with the bigger nut, and the last ones were japanned blue. Unless your hands are small, the tote is a tight fit.
Identify and date it
It sits between the 5½-inch No. 1 and the 8-inch No. 3, with a 1⅝-inch iron. Check that the lever cap is a real No. 2 cap and not a No. 3 cap ground narrower, whose sides stand well above the arched sides of the body when it's clamped. A No. 2 that measures about 8 inches but still has a 1⅝-inch iron is the scarce late version, not a No. 3.
Type Study sweet spot
Date it loosely. The No. 2 skipped most of the Type features sellers quote.
No No. 2 has patent dates cast behind the frog, and none has the frog adjusting screw, so the usual Type 11 checks don't apply. Its frog seat changed once, from the early H shape to a broad machined pad. A scarce late version is about 8 inches long with the larger brass nut, and the very last ones out of New Britain were japanned blue.
If you’ll use it
It's a good little smoother for small parts and isolated tough grain, if your hand fits the tote.
If you’ll collect it
Leach has seen fewer corrugated No. 2Cs than No. 1s, and the late 8-inch version is scarce too. Originality of the lever cap, nut and tote matters on all of them.
Look for a No. 3 lever cap ground down to fit, a brass nut swapped from a bigger plane, and damage at the heel where the tote rod meets a raised boss. Sometimes that rod has been tapped right through the sole.
Buying guide
No. 2s are scarce, with only 13 listed, and most complete ones ask $360–430 delivered. The plane we'd buy to use is the Sweetheart-era one at about $284, while tuned and Sweetheart planes sit in the band and corrugated 2Cs ask $374–494. Sellers quote Types, but no No. 2 has patent dates behind the frog, so treat a Type in the title loosely. Check that the lever cap's edges sit about level with the arched sides (a ground-down No. 3 cap stands proud), that the brass nut is shallow, and that no rod end shows through the heel.
$67.54est. delivered
A plain No. 2 at about $68 delivered with one bid, but more than nine days remain and an uncleaned one with 21 bids is already at $171. The cheapest fixed-price one is about $284 delivered, so we'd stop at about $250 bid.
Stanley No. 2 bench plane
$283.95est. delivered
A Sweetheart-era No. 2 per the title at about $284 delivered, the lowest fixed price on one the title doesn't call damaged, and well under the $360–430 band. Ask for a side photo of the lever cap and a look at the heel.
small SW era STANLEY NO 2 WOODWORKING PLANE see all pics
$364.85est. delivered
The only No. 2 here titled gone through and tuned, at about $365 delivered, mid-band. Ask what the tuning covered and whether the lever cap and nut are original No. 2 parts.
STANLEY No.2 SMOOTH SOLE PLANE "LATE 1800" "GONE THROUGH & TUNED"
$374.25est. delivered
A corrugated 2C, which Leach has seen fewer of than No. 1s, at about $374 delivered and inside the band. Check that the grooves run straight and parallel and stop short of the toe, heel and mouth.
Nice Old STANLEY No. 2C Smooth Plane : Type 11 : Great Old Tool : "V" tm
Delivered prices include shipping as eBay quoted it to a US address on Oct 11, 2026. Many sellers charge by distance, so your total may differ. eBay shows yours before you pay.
Snapshot
Checked . Some may have sold.
Delivered prices include shipping as eBay quoted it to a US address on Oct 11, 2026. Many sellers charge by distance, so your total may differ. eBay shows yours before you pay.
Used$67.54est. delivered
$56.24 + $11.30 shipping
Auction · 1 bid · ends in 9d 15h
Good buy
One bid, more than nine days left. No Type in the title.
Seller: md_trac
100% positive
Used$283.95est. delivered
$275.00 + $8.95 shipping
Buy It Now$275.00
Good buy
Sweetheart era per the title.
Seller: jcboxlot
99.9% positive
Used$364.85est. delivered
$350.00 + $14.85 shipping
Buy It Now$350.00
Good buy
Late 1800s, gone through and tuned per the title.
Seller: harrykal1
100% positive
Used$374.25est. delivered
$350.00 + $24.25 shipping
Buy It Now$350.00
Good buy
2C, Type 11, V logo per the title.
Seller: oldtymeantiques
100% positive
Used$235.00est. delivered
$225.00 + $10.00 shipping
Buy It Now$225.00
Our take
Damaged per the title, and marked Richmond Schools. Ask what the damage is.
Seller: drakeybean
100% positive
Used$349.99delivered
$349.99 · free shipping
Auction · no bids yet · ends in 6d 6h
Our take
Sweetheart iron, very nice condition per the title. No bids, starting at $350.
Seller: fatbackandstringbean
99.8% positive
Used$362.92est. delivered
$350.00 + $12.92 shipping
Buy It Now$350.00
This seller takes offers, and many sellers accept less than the asking price.
Fine if you might miss it? Send an offer first. Someone else can still buy it while you wait for a reply.
Want it for sure? Use Buy It Now.
Our take
Type 13 Sweetheart (1925–28) per the title. No. 2 Types are loose, since none has patent dates behind the frog.
Seller: patpom_0
100% positive
Used$547.95est. delivered
$525.00 + $22.95 shipping
Buy It Now$525.00
This seller takes offers, and many sellers accept less than the asking price.
Fine if you might miss it? Send an offer first. Someone else can still buy it while you wait for a reply.
Want it for sure? Use Buy It Now.
Our take
Type 8 (1899–1902) per the title, the top ask here, about $118 over the band.
Seller: maricli
100% positive
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