Ray Iles A6 Norris Style Parallel Smooth Plane

Here is a pristine A6 Norris style parallel smoothing plane made by English planemaker Ray Iles. Like the plane which inspired it, this plane features a Norris-style adjuster, a gunmetal lever cap and an Indian (as opposed to Brazilian) rosewood infill and closed-style handle. It even has its original box!

This plane also features a welded steel body — a practice made popular by Norris in the 1930’s (or thereabouts). Welding the two side planes to the sole may be quicker to do than dovetailing the parts together but, especially in those days, it was a rather difficult thing to do neatly and properly.

The fitting of the rosewood is flawless.

The 2-1/8″ wide cutting iron is made from fine grade A2 tool steel which has been hardened to Rc 60-62. The back of the cutter has been precision ground so that it is perfectly flat. The angle of the rosewood bed is pitched at 47-1/2 degrees, which is halfway between Standard pitch (45 degrees) and York pitch (50 degrees). This follows the same tradition practiced by Spiers, Norris and others.

The A6 is no longer being offered for sale by Ray Iles.

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