Unusual Plane handle

[MattS]

First up I’ll be honest I’m only asking to get info to help with listing this on eBay! Hope that’s OK. Funds are tight and I need to sell some stuff to keep funding the woodworking. Don’t worry though I have a 5 1/2 already that I’ve tuned and like, it’s a plastic handled one but feels right as it’s the one I’ve used for a while.

Got this in a job lot and was really after a couple of other planes and although older than mine, with a big chip in the blade it’s sat in a drawer. I have seen similar-ish handles on old Norris planes but why would someone have changed this, was it for a specific job or just suited their hand. I have a spare normal handle and wondering if I should switch it?

 

[AndyT]

I would assume either the owner fitted a handle like that because

a) he preferred that style, as used on many infill planes, and could make one without a lathe, or

b) thriftily salvaged a front handle from a gash older plane.

 

[Cabinetman]

Yes I’m sure Andy is correct, it does remind me of a rear handle my son made for his plane – just because he could and he felt it would be more ergonomic, it’s a very strange looking beast which I will try to remember to photograph, it certainly is more ergonomic but having used it a couple of times it’s not for me.

 

[AndyT]

I've just thought that there's a possibility that if you manage to remove the replacement front handle, you'll find that the original threaded boss to screw down onto is damaged, so an ordinary knob can't be fitted any more.

 

[Argus]

Aesthetically it doesn't look the part with that large lump on the toe, though it may add useful weight to the front end and be very good, very comfortable in use.

Maybe not.

Unless you have made your mind up, there's only one way to find out, I guess. Use it for a while, switch to a normal knob, use it some more and see which you prefer.

It would be an interesting experiment.

 

[Woodster]

It looks far too big for that plane. I think I’d fit a traditional round one if I was selling it. It’s an interesting point though, would a handle like that work nicely on a bigger plane of that type?

 

[AndyT]

Just for context, here's one of my planes with the same sort of square front knob. They're not uncommon on infill planes like this.

 

[MattS]

It’s off, pretty certain that as Andy said it’s homemade, looks fairy rough underneath.

Hadn’t realised how weighty that block of wood was until it was off - and I did use it for a while with the lump and although initially comfortable I’m used the round knobs so found the square limiting on how I held the plane.

 

[AndyT]

I think you have done the right thing. The other knob didn't make your plane valuable or collectable so it's much better to have it comfortable to use. (I rarely use the plane I showed.)