Stanley · No. 45 · 1884–1962
The No. 45 was Stanley's most famous combination plane, sold from 1884 to 1962. One body with interchangeable cutters could plow grooves, cut rabbets and dadoes, match tongue-and-groove boards, run beads and cut sash, and optional bottoms added hollows, rounds and nosing. It took over from whole sets of wooden planes as that trade faded. Patrick Leach admits he hates it, for the fussy setup, the tearout from its open skates and all the parts there are to lose. It changed a lot over the years. Early ones are japanned with floral castings, nickel plating came around 1890, a cutter adjusting screw around 1895, stippled castings around 1910 and a fine-adjust fence around 1915. Stanley added cutters to the standard set over time, so there's no single correct count. Check what's in the box against the cutters you need.
Identify and date it
The No. 55 is the bigger universal plane, with a sliding section that also moves up and down. Date a No. 45 by finish and castings. Japanned with floral castings is earliest, nickel plated with floral castings is about 1890 on, stippled castings are about 1910 on, and a fence with a single knurled fine-adjust screw is about 1915 on.
If you’ll use it
Leach says users want the planes from about 1915 on, with the fine-adjust fence. Check that the cutters you'll actually use are in the box.
If you’ll collect it
Early japanned planes with floral castings, original boxes and the optional cutters draw collectors. Leach says a complete boxed set of optional cutters is worth more than the plane.
The fence casting cracks where it curves down from the arms, and many have been welded. Early front knobs split, later ones strip their threads, the slitting cutter and its stop are usually missing, and later cam rests often lack their internal rod.
Buying guide
For use, buy a No. 45 that comes with its cutters, like the Sweetheart-era plane with 23 cutters and two cutter boxes at $245 delivered, inside the $90–260 band where most of the about 84 listed sit. Planes with no cutters named mostly ask $30–95, so ask what's included before you count one as cheap. Leach says users want planes from about 1915 on, with a single knurled fine-adjust screw on the fence, and the fence often cracks where it curves down from the arms, so look there for a crack or a weld. Check the photos for both pairs of arms, a spur on each skate, and the depth and beading stops. Collectors pay for early japanned planes with floral castings, and a titled japanned Type 3 asks about $143.
$30.30est. delivered
The lowest current price on a No. 45, with two bids and five days left. The title names no cutters, so ask how many come with it, and stop around $60 bid, since plain 45s are about $83 delivered on Buy It Now.
Vintage Antique Stanley No 45 Woodworking Plow Plough Combination Wood Plane
$245.00est. delivered
Sweetheart era, with 23 cutters and two cutter boxes, at $245 delivered, inside the band. That era should carry the fine-adjust fence users want, so check the photos for its knurled screw and count the cutters against the title.
STANLEY SW NO. 45 COMBINATION PLANE WITH ACCESSORIES -23 CUTTERS -2 CUTTER BOXES
$94.51est. delivered
A No. 45 with accessories in a wooden box at about $95 delivered, low in the band. Ask for a photo of the cutters laid out so you know which widths and beads you're getting.
Vintage Stanley No. 45 Plane with Accessories in Wooden Box
$143.45est. delivered
Titled a japanned Type 3 from 1888–89, at about $143 delivered. Japanned finish and floral castings mark the earliest planes, which collectors want, so check the photos for both.
Stanley no. 45 Type 3 (Japanned) Combination Plane 1888-1889
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$30.30est. delivered
$10.50 + $19.80 shipping
Auction · 2 bids · ends in 5d 15h
Good buy
No cutters named. Ask how many come with it.
Seller: r889300
100% positive
Used$245.00est. delivered
$225.00 + $20.00 shipping
Buy It Now$225.00
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.
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Good buy
Sweetheart era, 23 cutters, two cutter boxes.
Seller: dennisotool22
100% positive
Used$94.51est. delivered
$75.00 + $19.51 shipping
Buy It Now$75.00
Good buy
Comes with accessories in a wooden box.
Seller: beenleftbehind
99.9% positive
Used$143.45est. delivered
$125.00 + $18.45 shipping
Buy It Now$125.00
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.
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Good buy
Japanned Type 3, 1888–89 per the title.
Seller: jasfrank
99.8% positive
Used$44.99est. delivered
$34.99 + $10.00 shipping
Buy It Now$34.99
Our take
Cheapest Buy It Now. No cutters named in the title.
Seller: brpilk16
99.7% positive
Used$93.16est. delivered
$78.00 + $15.16 shipping
Buy It Now$78.00
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
Stanley Rule and Level Co. in the title. No cutters named.
Seller: cannonsandtools
100% positive
Used$113.24est. delivered
$100.00 + $13.24 shipping
Buy It Now$100.00
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.
Check the seller
Same plain title as two other sellers' 45s. Compare photos before buying.
Seller: bobnhelen1312
100% positive
Used$463.19est. delivered
$445.00 + $18.19 shipping
Buy It Now$445.00
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.
Priced high
Boxed Type 7S per the title, about $220 more than the 23-cutter Sweetheart plane.
Seller: wgreentag
100% positive
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