Stanley · No. 78 · 1885–1973
Patrick Leach says nearly every workman of the time had a No. 78 in his kit, and versions of it are still made. It's a duplex fillister and rabbet plane, with one bed for normal work and one up front for bullnose work into stopped rabbets. There's no cap iron, just a lever cap tightened by a thumbscrew. A depth stop rides on the right side, and below it a three-pronged spur scores the grain for cross-grain cuts and turns up out of the way when you don't need it. The fence rides on a threaded rod that screws into either side, so you can work left-handed, though the depth stop only fits on the right. Early planes have floral vines cast in the handle, a fish-scale pattern came in around 1910, and from 1925 a lever sets the iron's depth.
Identify and date it
A lever under the iron that engages grooves in its back means 1925 or later. Floral vines on the handle are early, and a fish-scale pattern arrived around 1910. The 78W looks like a plain 78 but has a detachable runner and a locking nut or lever just below the cutter adjuster.
If you’ll use it
Buy one with the fence and depth stop. Leach says assembling a complete plane from parts usually costs more than buying a complete one.
If you’ll collect it
An aluminum A78 should be aluminum throughout, including the fence, lever cap and depth stop.
The depth stop and fence go missing most often. Fence rods bend where the threads start, original thumbscrews get replaced with plain screws, and some planes have the sole ahead of the bullnose bed snapped off and brazed or ground away.
Buying guide
Buy a No. 78 with its fence and depth stop. Plain ones ask $31–37 delivered, under the $40–65 band most of the about 116 listed ask, so check the photos for both before you buy. Leach says those are the parts that go missing most, and that building up a complete plane from parts costs more than buying one, so skip the fenceless planes at $54–60 delivered. Look for the three-pronged spur below the depth stop, a straight fence rod where the threads start, and a whole sole ahead of the bullnose bed. Early planes have floral vines cast in the handle, a fish-scale pattern came in around 1910, and a lever under the iron means 1925 or later.
$31.06est. delivered
The lowest delivered price on a No. 78 from a seller with feedback shown, about $31 and under the band. The title doesn't mention the fence or depth stop, so look for both in the photos.
Vintage Stanley No. 78 Duplex Rabbet Plane Made in USA 8-1/2” Woodworking Tool
$37.28est. delivered
Titled with the 6-7-10 patent date and a script logo, at about $37 delivered, under the band. Check the photos for the fence, its rod and the depth stop before you buy.
Stanley Duplex Early No 78 Rabbet Plane Patent 6-7-10 1910 Script Logo
$72.00est. delivered
Titled Type 1, a no-bid auction at $72 delivered with five days left. Early 78s have floral vines cast in the handle, so check the photos for them, and we'd stop around $85 bid, where another early 78 titled with 1883 and 1884 patent dates opens.
Stanley No. 78 Duplex, Rabbet & Filletster plane Type 1
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$31.06est. delivered
$24.99 + $6.07 shipping
Buy It Now$24.99
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Good buy
Made in USA, 8½ inches. Fence and stop not mentioned.
Seller: jo591405
100% positive
Used$37.28est. delivered
$29.95 + $7.33 shipping
Buy It Now$29.95
Good buy
Patent 6-7-10 and script logo per the title.
Seller: vintagemodernartifacts
100% positive
Used$72.00est. delivered
$60.00 + $12.00 shipping
Auction · no bids yet · ends in 5d 9h
Good buy
Type 1 per the title. No bids yet.
Seller: nuey1
100% positive
Used$36.14est. delivered
$29.74 + $6.40 shipping
Buy It Now$29.74
This seller takes offers, and many sellers accept less than the asking price.
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Our take
Plain title. Check the photos for the fence and depth stop.
Seller: smro55
100% positive
Used$53.77est. delivered
$45.99 + $7.78 shipping
Buy It Now$45.99
Our take
No fence, and one iron is a Sargent. Costs more than the cheapest plain 78s.
Seller: jonabi_5259
99.8% positive
Used$60.20est. delivered
$46.00 + $14.20 shipping
Buy It Now$46.00
This seller takes offers, and many sellers accept less than the asking price.
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Our take
No fence (guide). Priced like a complete one.
Seller: josh3728
99.6% positive
Used$11.80est. delivered
$0.99 + $10.81 shipping
Auction · 1 bid · ends in 2d 15h
Check the seller
No seller shown on the card, so check feedback on the item page. Script-logo body, Sweetheart iron per the title.
Seller: Seller on eBay
Check feedback on the listing
Used$171.84est. delivered
$149.99 + $21.85 shipping
Buy It Now$149.99
This seller takes offers, and many sellers accept less than the asking price.
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Priced high
Boxed and minty per the title, England-made. About three times the median ask.
Seller: tiquetrader
100% positive
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