Stanley · No. 9½ · 1873–1981
Patrick Leach calls the No. 9½ probably Stanley's most popular block plane, and it stayed in the line from 1873 to 1981. The iron sits bevel up on a 20° bed, so there's no cap iron, and the front of the sole slides to open or close the mouth. Early ones are crude, with an angular iron that dug into your palm and a mouth set with a slotted screw. By the late 1890s Stanley had settled on the version you'll usually find, with oval Hand-y grip dimples milled into the sides, a brass depth nut on a threaded post, a lateral lever and a lever cap with its cam on top. The iron went from 1¾ to 1⅝ inches wide in 1909. In the late 1940s and early 1950s some were sold in a birch-bark Christmas box. The knuckle-joint lever cap people link with it belongs to its siblings, the No. 18 and No. 19.
Identify and date it
The No. 9½ is the 6-inch, 20° block plane with japanned trim. The No. 15 is the same plane at 7 inches, and the No. 18 adds a knuckle-joint lever cap. The model number is usually stamped on the left side near the sole, and the earliest top-lever caps carry PAT'D 10-12-97 where the lever is pinned.
If you’ll use it
Any complete one from the late 1890s on, with the oval Hand-y grip dimples, works well. Leach says there are so many that you can pass on rusty or incomplete ones and wait for a better example.
If you’ll collect it
Collectors look for the early Excelsior-style castings and the first adjustable mouths set with a slotted screw, which Leach calls the most valuable version.
Stress cracks running up the sides from the mouth are the most common damage on every Stanley block plane, and rust often hides them. The sliding mouth section seizes, its knob boss breaks, and the small eccentric lever that moves it is easy to lose. The fork that engages the back of the iron can wear or break its nibs.
Buying guide
The 9½ is common, with about 70 listed, and most complete ones ask $45–60 delivered, while plain user planes start near $26. Leach says there are so many that you can pass on rusty or incomplete ones and wait for a better one. Zoom in around the mouth and up both sides for hairline cracks, look for the small eccentric lever behind the front knob, and ask whether the brass depth nut turns and the front of the sole slides. Collectors want the early Excelsior casting, and the one titled that way at about $46 is our collector pick. Skip the $136 one, which has nothing in the title to explain the price.
$24.95est. delivered
A 9½ the seller thinks may be early, at about $25 delivered with no bids and almost four days left. A fixed-price one sits at $26 delivered, so this only makes sense near the opening bid.
Early stanley no.9-1/2 block plane?
$25.95est. delivered
An adjustable 9½ titled original, at about $26 delivered and well under the $45–60 band. Ask for close photos of the mouth and sides, and of the eccentric lever behind the front knob.
Stanley Block Plane No. 9-1/2 Adjustable Woodworking Wood Plane Original Vintage
$46.03est. delivered
An Excelsior-body 9½, the early casting collectors look for, at about $46 delivered, the bottom of the band. Stress cracks from the mouth are the most common damage, so ask for close photos there before you offer.
Stanley 9 1/2 type 4 exselsior body block 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$24.95est. delivered
$18.92 + $6.03 shipping
Auction · no bids yet · ends in 3d 19h
Good buy
"Early" with a question mark in the title. No bids yet.
Seller: 62debbie
99.3% positive
Used$25.95est. delivered
$19.88 + $6.07 shipping
Buy It Now$19.88
This seller takes offers, and many sellers accept less than the asking price.
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Good buy
Adjustable, original per the title.
Seller: cyber-exchange
100% positive
Used$46.03est. delivered
$40.00 + $6.03 shipping
Buy It Now$40.00
This seller takes offers, and many sellers accept less than the asking price.
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Good buy
Excelsior body, Type 4 per the title.
Seller: davidb3144
100% positive
Used$47.69est. delivered
$34.99 + $12.70 shipping
Buy It Now$34.99
This seller takes offers, and many sellers accept less than the asking price.
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Our take
Stanley Rule & Level Co. per the title.
Seller: gogreenlb
100% positive
Used$50.00delivered
$50.00 · free shipping
Buy It Now$50.00
Our take
Catalog number 13-029, VGC per the title. Free shipping.
Seller: bob1974
100% positive
Used$42.52est. delivered
$29.99 + $12.53 shipping
Buy It Now$29.99
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 title as another seller's 9½. Compare the photos before you buy.
Seller: mudsales4510
98.7% positive
Used$46.27est. delivered
$38.00 + $8.27 shipping
Buy It Now$38.00
Check the seller
Excelsior per the title, but its 1858–67 date is before Stanley made the 9½ (1873 on).
Seller: vagueona2
99.9% positive
Used$136.00est. delivered
$125.00 + $11.00 shipping
Buy It Now$125.00
Priced high
No reason in the title for more than twice the band top.
Seller: sunnys_auctions
100% positive
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