Plane Identification??

That’s worth keeping because it was grandpappy’s … but it doesn’t have much value.

It's not about the value for me. I just want to know what kind of plane it is and what it should be used for.

Drumone said:

It's not about the value for me. I just want to know what kind of plane it is and what it should be used for.

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looks to me to be a block plane desinged to be used i one hand with the second finger placed in the indentaion at the front used for final smoothing of angles corners etc.

In England its known as an "arris" plane. I have my fathers one which has to be almost a 100 years old now. When making straight square pieces of wood you run this down the edges to remove the "arris" (sharp edge) which then stops the wood splintering.
Obsolete now as the job is done by routers and shapers and even a wisp of sandpaper.

Thanks for the info Wood Worm and SunnyBob! If nothing else, it makes great shavings for fire starters for the fire pit.

@sunnybob - when you say the sharp edge, are you referring to the corners? Almost like creating a camfered edge? Please excuse my inexperienced questions. I'll be forty-five next month and after years of home repair and small building projects, I'm just now trying to get into real woodworking.

Yes. "corners" was a bad choice of word, I've only been working with wood for 8 years after a lifetime with metal and machinery, but my dad was a carpenter, so i learnt all his tools when still very young, so my terminology is almost a 100 years out of date

sunnybob said:

Yes. "corners" was a bad choice of word, I've only been working with wood for 8 years after a lifetime with metal and machinery, but my dad was a carpenter, so i learnt all his tools when still very young, so my terminology is almost a 100 years out of date

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corners was a bad choice of words i use the block plane to clean up the rebates when making picture frames

The book "The Stanley Plane" shows this as a #101 block plane, made from 1877 to 1962. The rounded nose was introduced around 1905 and the red lever cap is shown in their 1941 catalog. "This toy-sized plane was designed for household use and light work and was also used in toy tool boxes."

John has it. A little research can pay off. There are also squirrel tail planes very similar.
Here is the ultimate Stanley plane reference. The Superior Works - Patrick's Blood & Gore: Preface