The blade and chipbreaker are a full 1/8 in. thick and make flawless contact with each other. The plane I received had a sole that was slightly concave from side to side, but a quick lapping fixed it. With two full revolutions of backlash in the mechanism, I found the Norris-style adjuster fussy and imprecise. A bright spot is the adjuster’s innovative lateral lock, which prevents the blade from shifting during use. While the cherry knob is comfortable, the tote is large with flat sides, making for an uncomfortable grip. The plane is cast from durable, ductile iron, and the frog and body are made in one piece, creating a rock-solid body. The precisely milled A2 blades are ground to a 25° bevel. The No. 4 sells for about $180.

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