Over the years I've probably had eight jack planes, including six #5 of various vintages and a mint #605 1/2. They all came on the cheap at garage sales or flea markets and after cleanup I sold them or gave them away due to not ever using them. I invested in a LN #62 a few years ago and figured with a couple of extra irons it would cover all the bases. It mostly has. In the last year or so I've been looking to for a #5 to use as a single purpose Jack for prepping rough sawn lumber. Something I could grind a nice camber on and use to true up boards. The last couple years decent #5 jacks seem to have been rare as Kosher bacon. The ones I did find were usually junk and selling for a serious premium. Once I restored them to working order and replaced the irons and chipbreaker I would have been better off buying new.
The missus and I were vacationing this last week and happened on an antique mall in Madison, IN on the Ohio River. I was surprised to find three serviceable Jacks to choose from. The first was a Winchester #3010 (same as a #5). It was probably worth more than the asking price but I'm a Stanley guy. The second was a Cordovan (Maroon) Type 21 with what appeared to be a poplar knob and tote. No thanks. I'm just petty enough that I need black japanning and rosewood. This third was a keeper. A type 19 in pretty fair shape. Lots of filth but no rust or pitting. Flat bottom with no cracks. Rosewood knob and tote. Not many paint speckles. A hanger hole was added at the heel by someone. I can live with that. More than I wanted to pay but less than a replacement Hock Iron will cost. Shown below after a brief cleanup. I'll likely do a wholesale restoration just so it looks pretty.
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