I recently found this old Sargent transitional plane on ebay for 20.00. I restored it and found everything was in great shape but the front of the bottom was very soft wood. I chiseled out the spot and epoxied in a piece of ironwood. It closed up the throat and the harder wood is much better than the softer beech or birch it was made out of. Since these are not really valuable; I have no problem restoring them.
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