On a recent visit to a lifelong tool collecting craftsman this wooden mitre plane appeared.

Definitely the largest we have seen and quite possibly the largest ever made at 25 inches in length.

Wooden (and metal) mitre planes were used, as the name suggests, to trim mitres or shoot end grain.  To achieve a high quality finish a very tight mouth is required and late in the 18th century this was achieved by the addition of a hardwood engrain mouth closer or plug in front of the mouth.  By tapping the plug down after any resulting wear tightness can be maintained.

This example has a beechwood stock and wedge with a rosewood closer and is fitted with a 2 1/2 inch wide nibbed or snecked iron from Philly Planes.

Wow!

Enjoy the photos.

Robert Leach

OLD HAND TOOLS