Stanley · No. 5½ · 1898–1958
The No. 5½ is a wider, heavier jack, 15 inches long and about 6¾ pounds by Patrick Leach's figures. Stanley made it from 1898 to 1958, and its iron changed width partway through, from 2¼ inches to 2⅜ inches in 1939. Leach rates it a good plane for preparing broad surfaces like panels. The corrugated 5½C covered the same years, and a heavier English-market 5½H ran from 1902 to 1924 alongside the 4½H. The width change matters most when the iron is missing or worn out. A pre-1939 plane needs a pre-1939 iron, and Leach says that 2¼-inch width is unique to it, so a listing with the original iron in good shape saves you a long hunt.
Identify and date it
It's an inch longer than the No. 5 and noticeably wider and heavier. Ask the seller to measure the iron, since an iron of 2¼ inches is pre-1939 and one of 2⅜ inches is 1939 or later. The 5½H has an H cast after the number.
Type Study sweet spot
Types 10–16 (about 1907–1941), with an eye on the iron width.
It arrived in 1898, so there are no early-Type 5½s. Date it like a No. 4 by the patent dates behind the frog, the knob and the lever cap. The iron went from 2¼ to 2⅜ inches wide in 1939, so a plane with Type 15 or earlier features should carry a 2¼-inch iron.
If you’ll use it
Leach suggests it for truing broad work such as panels, and its weight helps on wide boards.
If you’ll collect it
The English-market 5½H is the scarce one.
Same faults as any Bailey, with cracked cheeks, broken tote horns and pitting. A missing or wrong-width iron is the special problem here.
Buying guide
About 25 are listed, and about half ship from the UK, where most add $47–90 of shipping to a $50–80 ask, so compare delivered prices. Most complete ones ask $110–200 delivered, but a US plane with an Apr-19-10 patent date asks $80 with free shipping, and that's the one we'd buy to use. Ask the seller to measure the iron. A pre-1939 plane needs the 2¼-inch iron that Leach says fits only this plane, so one with its original iron in good shape saves you a long hunt. Skip the corrugated plane titled weld damage, since a welded casting is a deal breaker.
$19.50est. delivered
A Type 14 with a Sweetheart iron per the title, at about $20 delivered with three bids and six days left. A 5½C Type 14 with 21 bids is already at $99 delivered and the cheapest fixed-price one is $80, so we'd stop at about $65 bid.
Stanley Bailey No. 5 1/2 Type 14 1929-30 Sweetheart SW Hand Plane #5 1/2 Jack
$79.99delivered
If Apr-19-10 is the only patent date behind the frog, it's a Type 13 or 14, at $79.99 with free shipping from the US, well under the $110–200 band. Ask the seller to measure the iron, which should be 2¼ inches on a plane that age.
Stanley Bailey No. 5 1/2 woodworking Plane US PAT# Apr-19-10 - 15" Long
$175.00est. delivered
A corrugated 5½C the seller dates to 1910 as a Type 11, at $175 delivered, inside the band. A Type 11 should show three patent dates behind the frog and carry a 2¼-inch iron, so ask for both.
Rare Antique 1910 Stanley Bailey No. 5 1/2 Type 11 Rule & Level Corrugated Plane
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$19.50est. delivered
$5.50 + $14.00 shipping
Auction · 3 bids · ends in 6d 15h
Good buy
Type 14, Sweetheart per the title. Three bids, six days left.
Seller: greatoldtimertoolguy33
99.9% positive
Used$79.99delivered
$79.99 · free shipping
Buy It Now$79.99
Good buy
Apr-19-10 patent date, 15 inches long per the title. Free shipping.
Seller: pre-ownedprestige
100% positive
Used$175.00est. delivered
$150.00 + $25.00 shipping
Buy It Now$150.00
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.
Good buy
Corrugated Type 11 from 1910 per the title.
Seller: scval_65
100% positive
Used$60.43est. delivered
$49.99 + $10.44 shipping
Buy It Now$49.99
Our take
Weld damage per the title. A welded casting rules it out for use.
Seller: lessienunn
99.7% positive
Used$135.64est. delivered
$52.94 + $82.70 shipping
Buy It Now$52.94
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
Super clean and hardly used per the title, but $83 of the total is UK shipping.
Seller: uk_til4
99.8% positive
Used$143.41est. delivered
$52.94 + $90.47 shipping
Buy It Now$52.94
Our take
Made in USA per the title, shipping from the UK for $90.
Seller: peepsstephano0
98.7% positive
Used$247.20est. delivered
$220.00 + $27.20 shipping
Buy It Now$220.00
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
5½C Type 9 per the title, the top ask here, about $47 over the band.
Seller: katpc
100% positive
Used$106.35est. delivered
$59.49 + $46.86 shipping
Buy It Now$59.49
Check the seller
Seller feedback wasn't on the search card. Ships from the UK, $47 of the total.
Seller: Seller on eBay
Check feedback on the listing
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