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Stanley 44  Millers Patent Adjustable Plough Plane

offered 1871 - 1897

10" long

Same as No 43 i.e. without a filletster bed but this one has a gunmetal fence and body. Gunmetal fences hardly ever show up, more often than not you'll find a 44 with a replaced cast iron fence or a newish looking brass replacement wrap around fence. Wrap around filletster fences as illustrated on the right were used in early models of the 41 and the 43.  I have only  ever handled one complete  44 and I don't want to pass on third-hand knowledge but I'm quite certain that the early 44 actually had a gunmetal  wrap-around fence. I remember taking a picture of one on a dealer's table in Harrisburg PA but I later learned that the fence I photographed actually was a replacement that had enjoyed some magical speed-ageing! So on my list of things to do before retirement is the quest to bring you a perfect picture of a perfect 44 with a gunmetal wrap around fence. Watch this space.

illustration from 1879 Stanley catalogue (edited, the original actually shows the No 41 under the 44 listing. The narrow slots of the filletster bed should actually be filled in for the 44 )