When these small planes appear for sale online, they’re almost always described as a “Russian copy of a Stanley No.1.” But having one in hand, I’m not convinced that’s an accurate label. While there are similarities, there are also some clear design differences that set it apart.
Description of the Plane
This little plane is compact, with a sole measuring 41mm (1 5/8″) wide and 149mm (5 7/8″) long. The blade is 29mm (1 1/8″) wide, and the mouth opening comes in at 6mm.
The knob and tote are made of heavily lacquered hardwood, giving them a shiny, somewhat old-fashioned finish. Running a steel rule along the sole reveals a high point just behind the mouth, while across the sole it is consistently flat. Both the sole and sides are nicely machined to a fine finish.
Inside, the casting is painted green over its as-cast surface. Unlike a Stanley, there’s no separate frog. Instead, the casting incorporates a cross piece with gusset that supports the blade. The blade itself is held in place by a lever cap with a top adjusting screw, which presses against a crossbar.
As for markings, the lever cap is stamped USSR, and the body carries a “B” inside a double diamond, cast just in front of the tote.
Comparison with a Stanley No.1
Dimensionally, the Russian plane is only slightly different: about 3mm longer and 3mm wider than a Stanley No.1, though the blades are the same width.
The real difference lies in the blade mounting system. A Stanley No.1 is a scaled-down version of its larger siblings, complete with frog, blade, and lever cap in miniature. The Russian plane, on the other hand, uses a much simpler setup. The lack of a frog and the reliance on a crosspiece and adjusting screw make it feel more like a functional reinterpretation rather than a faithful copy.
Final Thoughts
Because of its simplified blade arrangement, I don’t think this Russian plane can truly be called a copy of the Stanley No.1. Instead, it seems more like a streamlined, alternative approach aimed at filling the same niche.
That said, my research led me to Russian Handplane Central, where I found a photo of another Russian plane that does appear to be direct copies of the Stanley No.1. So perhaps this little tool is better thought of as a cousin rather than a clone. And the true clone has not found it’s way onto Western markets.
