I own three planes branded ‘Rapier’. Two are model 400, equivalent to a Stanley No. 4, and one is a model 500, equivalent to a Stanley No. 5.
A Bit of History
These planes were manufactured in Gateshead, England, by the Anglo Scottish Tool Company during the late 1940s and 1950s. Despite the company’s name, its location was about 60 miles from the Scottish border.
During its peak, the company’s tools were distributed throughout England and Scotland by H. & D. Churchill Ltd., with outlets in Birmingham, Manchester, London, Newcastle, and Glasgow. William Sidney Powel, the driving force behind the company, was responsible for numerous British manufacturing patents from the 1930s. These patents were initially assigned to Powel & Hill Company, which later became the Anglo Scottish Tool Company.
The range of planes they produced included models numbered 400, 450, 500, 600, and 700, corresponding to Stanley models 4, 4 1/2, 5, 6, and 7. Throughout their production period, various features such as cap irons, knobs, totes, and casting details were modified.
They also produced a No. 2 size plane with a pressed steel body, unlike the cast bodies of the other models, and a No. 3 plow plane, equivalent to the Record No. 43 plow. Additionally, they manufactured three block planes: a No. 11 (Stanley 110), a No. 12 (Stanley 120), and a No. 14 double ender (Stanley 140). Their spokeshaves included the No. 151 adjustable (similar to Stanley’s) and an all-metal/alloy round face spokeshave, which did not appear to have a number.
Rapier planes are relatively common in the UK and were also exported. I’ve seen references to them in Canada, Zimbabwe, and here in Australia.
The Planes
Rapier planes receive mixed reviews. The casting finish was somewhat rough, and there were reports of non-machined frog mountings; however, on my three planes, the frog mountings are machined. The handles are typically plastic, though one of my 400s has a wooden rear tote and a plastic front knob. The castings are probably a bit thicker than those of the equivalent Stanleys.
While some Stanleys have a raised ring around the front knob, Rapier planes feature a slightly conical increase in the base thickness leading up to the front knob. Perhaps the most notable difference is the lever cap. Rapier planes use a screw to tighten the cap rather than a lever, though in the advertisement above – it shows a more traditional lever version.
All three of my planes have their original Rapier blades. I haven’t tried to make them usable, so I cannot comment on their functionality.
My principal sources for this information were the following websites:
Also – this site may be worth looking at in the future when they load more details (but they currently have lots of photos): https://www.rapierplanes.com/