The Wil-Kro Razor Plane (spelled Wilkro on the original box) stands out as the most commonly found razor blade plane.
The Wil-Kro has four blade configurations:
- a flat sole,
- a bull nose,
- a chisel,
- a curved sole plane.
This smaller razor blade plane combines innovative design with comfort. Adjusting the blade depth on my examples proves slightly difficult since the blade cap is part of the plane. The plane and box reference US Patent No. 2289504, granted in 1942, which highlights many clever design features of the multipurpose handle that also secures the blade. This possibly represents the most innovative design among various razor blade planes. The patent notes that the blades resemble those used in safety razors but are slightly different. However, the provided instructions recommend using ordinary double-edge razor blades, indicating a change between the patent application and commercial production.
The tightening knob underwent refinements during production, resulting in an elegant, almost horn-like shape that aligns and tightens more easily than the wing nuts on most other planes. Since the body of these planes consists of two pieces, some users feel they lack the rigidity of one-piece models.
The box for my plane remains in mint condition, featuring a handwritten notation “2/83 7.50,” which I assume indicates February 1983 and a price of $7.50. I haven’t determined when these planes were last manufactured. Since patents typically last for 20 years, products usually don’t display patent numbers beyond that period. My plane has a patent number, suggesting it may date from before 1962, likely making it “new-old stock” in 1983. I purchased it on eBay (US) in 2012, and it still appears unused.
The Wil-Kro came with fairly detailed instructions, indicating it was either a new or complex tool or marketed to a relatively amateur market, likely for home use as an all-purpose plane. Users should replace dull blades rather than resharpen them.
The Wil-Kro box lists “Craft Master Tool Co. Cleveland Ohio” as the manufacturer and contact for the warranty. My Select Razor Planer, bought with a simple sliding wedge clamp marked “Select,” also has identical clamps marked “Craftmaster Tool Co. Cleveland Ohio.” This suggests that both the Wil-Kro and Select Razor Planes came from the same US manufacturer.