Stanley · No. 5 · 1869–1984
The No. 5 jack plane is 14 inches long with a 2-inch iron, and Stanley sold them by the boatload from 1869 to 1984. Patrick Leach calls it the most useful of all the bench planes and a very good one to learn on. It's the first plane on rough stock, and nearly every handyman had one for trimming doors and sash. With a curved iron and an open mouth it takes heavy cuts. Set fine, it smooths, and it'll joint an edge, though not as easily as a No. 7 or No. 8. Christopher Schwarz counts the No. 5 as a fore plane, the coarse tool that takes a rough board to reasonably flat, and says metal ones of any age have few significant problems. Schools bought them in quantity too, which is why some turn up with hard rubber B of E (Board of Education) totes from the 1910s and 1920s or aluminum ones from the 1930s.
Identify and date it
It shares the No. 4's 2-inch iron width but is 5 inches longer. The No. 5¼ is a narrower 11½-inch junior jack made for schools, and the No. 5½ is a wider, heavier 15-inch jack, so check the length and iron width against the listing title. A 5C has grooves along the sole with no C cast on it, an A5 is aluminum and an S5 has a bent steel body.
Type Study sweet spot
Types 10–16 (about 1907–1941) for a plane that also smooths. For roughing work, almost any age will do.
Date it like a No. 4, by the patent dates behind the frog, the knob height, the raised knob ring from Type 14 and the lever cap hole. Schwarz's own fore plane is an old No. 5 with a handmade tote and a sole of doubtful flatness, so the Type matters less here than on a smoother. The aluminum A5 (1925–1935) and pressed-steel S5 (1926–1942) date themselves.
If you’ll use it
If you flatten rough boards by hand, Schwarz would have you buy a used metal No. 5 or No. 6 with wooden handles, not plastic, and skip premium planes for this job.
If you’ll collect it
The aluminum A5 and steel S5 are the collectible versions. An ordinary No. 5 appeals to collectors mainly as an early Type in good order.
Jacks did the rough work, so expect worn and pitted soles, toes and heels ground square, holes drilled through the body for hanging and sheared tote horns. Leach also finds aftermarket oilers on early ones and school replacement totes.
Buying guide
A jack does the rough work, so almost any age will do, and a sound No. 5 asks about $50–65 delivered here. About 160 are listed, and most complete ones ask $65–90 delivered. For a collector, the all-original Type 8 5C at about $85 is the one to look at, while a boxed one or an "extra fine" Type 13 asks $148–259. Check the cheeks and mouth for cracks or welds, look for toes and heels ground square and drilled hanging holes, and make sure the tote is wood and whole. Skip the incomplete one, which costs more than a complete jack.
$49.43est. delivered
A Type 19 (1948–61) per the title, at about $49 delivered with five bids and under two days left. A fixed-price jack sits at $50 delivered, so we'd stop at about $41 bid.
Stanley Bailey No 5 Smooth Bottom Wood Plane Type 19 (1948-1961)
$50.03est. delivered
The cheapest fixed-price jack here at about $50 delivered, $15 under the band, and for roughing work the Type barely matters. The title gives no Type or condition, so ask for photos of the mouth, the tote and the toe and heel.
Vintage Stanley Bailey #5 Wood Plane Smooth Bottom Item # 13
$84.80est. delivered
A corrugated 5C the seller calls a Type 8 with all original parts, at about $85 delivered and inside the band. Compare the japanning on the frog and body and ask to see the iron's logo before you trust the original-parts claim.
Stanley Tools No. 5C Type 8 Plane All Original Parts Manufactured 1899-02
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$49.43est. delivered
$40.57 + $8.86 shipping
Auction · 5 bids · ends in 1d 16h
Good buy
Type 19 (1948–61) per the title. Five bids so far.
Seller: acm-antiques
100% positive
Used$50.03est. delivered
$39.00 + $11.03 shipping
Buy It Now$39.00
Good buy
Smooth-bottom No. 5. No Type or condition in the title.
Seller: completeauctionsllc
100% positive
Used$84.80est. delivered
$65.00 + $19.80 shipping
Buy It Now$65.00
Good buy
5C, Type 8, all original parts per the title.
Seller: winchester54
100% positive
For parts$53.86est. delivered
$45.00 + $8.86 shipping
Buy It Now$45.00
Our take
Incomplete per the title, and it costs more than complete jacks here. Ask what's missing.
Seller: shalashboy
100% positive
Used$72.14est. delivered
$54.99 + $17.15 shipping
Buy It Now$54.99
This seller takes offers, and many sellers accept less than the asking price.
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Our take
Blue with a yellow logo, Type 20 (1962–67) per the title. Past the rosewood-and-brass years.
Seller: nashtygrl1dsa
100% positive
Used$79.00est. delivered
$55.00 + $24.00 shipping
Buy It Now$55.00
Our take
Flat sole per the title. $24 of the total is shipping.
Seller: manningantiqueandvintagetools
100% positive
Used$147.65est. delivered
$135.00 + $12.65 shipping
Buy It Now$135.00
Our take
With the original B-22 box per the title, about $58 over the band.
Seller: goingnow
99.7% positive
Used$259.20est. delivered
$235.00 + $24.20 shipping
Buy It Now$235.00
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
Type 13 "extra fine" per the title, nearly three times the band top.
Seller: katpc
100% positive
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