Stanley · No. 8 · 1869–1961
The No. 8 is the biggest Bailey bench plane, 24 inches long with a 2⅝-inch iron and about 9¾ pounds. Stanley made it from 1869 to 1961, along with a corrugated 8C that Patrick Leach says is far less common than the 7C. Leach calls it the jointer for bull work and likes how its weight keeps it moving through a knot or a change in grain. Christopher Schwarz owns one too, but he'd rather push his under-5-pound fore plane for a long stretch than his 10-pound No. 8, which is why he does his heavy roughing with the shorter plane. Pick the No. 8 if you joint long edges and big tops and don't mind the weight. For furniture-size work, the No. 7 does the same job lighter.
Identify and date it
It has the widest iron in the Bailey line at 2⅝ inches, so a quick measurement separates it from a No. 7. The number is cast behind the tote. Stanley's Bed Rock version is the No. 608, made from 1898 to 1940.
Type Study sweet spot
Types 10–16 (about 1907–1941) have the features most users want.
Date it like a No. 4 by the patent dates behind the frog, the knob and raised ring, and the lever cap hole. The number is cast behind the tote at the heel. Production ended in 1961, so there's no blue Type 20 No. 8.
If you’ll use it
It suits long edges and benchtops if you can handle the weight, and the mass helps it through knots.
If you’ll collect it
The corrugated 8C is much scarcer than the 7C.
Check the whole body for cracks at the cheeks and mouth and for twist. Broken tote horns, pitting and replaced totes are common, as on any Bailey.
Buying guide
The No. 8 weighs about 9¾ pounds, and shipping here runs up to $72, so compare delivered prices. About 35 are listed, and most complete ones ask $200–290 delivered, with a few user planes from about $170. Most early Types and corrugated 8Cs, which Leach finds far scarcer than 7Cs, still ask $230–290, so a collector doesn't pay much over the band here. Ask the seller to measure the iron (2⅝ inches confirms a No. 8) and whether it rocks on a flat surface, and get close photos of the cheeks and mouth. Skip the plane that needs restoration, which costs as much as a complete one, and the $585 "Founder's Grade" plane.
$67.95est. delivered
A 24-inch smooth-sole No. 8 at about $68 delivered with two bids and five days left. Fixed-price No. 8s start near $168 delivered, so we'd stop at about $140 bid.
Vintage Stanley Bailey No. 8 Wood Plane 24" Smooth Sole Made in USA
$169.04est. delivered
The title's two patent dates, Mar-25-02 and Aug-19-02, fit Types 9–10, and it's about $169 delivered, under the $200–290 band even with $57 of shipping. Ask for photos of the dates behind the frog and of the cheeks and mouth.
Vintage Stanley Bailey No. 8 Plane Pat’d Mar-25-02 Aug-19-02 SEE PHOTOS
$257.99est. delivered
A corrugated 8C, which Leach finds far less common than a 7C, with two patent dates on the bed per the title, at about $258 delivered and inside the band. Check that the grooves run straight and stop short of the toe, heel and mouth.
K GREAT VINTAGE STANLEY BAILEY NO. 8C JOINTER PLANE 2 PAT DATES ON BED T09500
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$67.95est. delivered
$41.00 + $26.95 shipping
Auction · 2 bids · ends in 5d 9h
Good buy
24 inches, smooth sole per the title. Two bids, five days left.
Seller: minneapolis_nonna
100% positive
Used$169.04est. delivered
$112.49 + $56.55 shipping
Buy It Now$112.49
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Good buy
Mar-25-02 and Aug-19-02 patent dates per the title. $57 of the total is shipping.
Seller: reedsresell
100% positive
Used$257.99est. delivered
$229.99 + $28.00 shipping
Buy It Now$229.99
Good buy
8C with two patent dates on the bed per the title.
Seller: mandm991
100% positive
For parts$166.75est. delivered
$149.00 + $17.75 shipping
Buy It Now$149.00
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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Our take
Corrugated, needs restoration per the title, at the price of a complete No. 8.
Seller: pwitte
99.7% positive
Used$247.14est. delivered
$175.00 + $72.14 shipping
Buy It Now$175.00
This seller takes offers, and many sellers accept less than the asking price.
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Want it for sure? Use Buy It Now.
Our take
24 inches per the title, but $72 of the total is shipping.
Seller: elbow-5711
100% positive
Used$259.18est. delivered
$219.98 + $39.20 shipping
Buy It Now$219.98
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 7 (1893–99) with an "S Frog" per the title.
Seller: realsongsweet
99.6% positive
Used$197.37est. delivered
$169.99 + $27.38 shipping
Buy It Now$169.99
Check the seller
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Seller: Seller on eBay
Check feedback on the listing
Used$584.50delivered
$584.50 · free shipping
Buy It Now$584.50
Priced high
"98% Finishes" per the title. Ask whether the japanning is original. About twice the band top.
Seller: greatcatalogue
99.7% positive
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