Stanley 720 Socket Chisels

[Sean Hughto]

Stanley definitely made 2" (i.e., over 1 1/2). I dunno about 1 3/4" specifically. I find those in big in-between sizes (larger than 1" but less than 2") to be tools I hardly ever find a use for. I either tend to need the standard sizes up to 1" or a honking big one - a 2". I could imagine some in-betweens being useful if you do stuff like post and beam or log cabin building.

[Pat Zabrocki]

John Walter's guide does not mention a #720 that is 1 3/4 but it does not mention a 1/8 either and one of those was listed on the bay (in a set) the other day. the 1 3/4 is very rare for the 750 series (perhaps the rarest ) so I'm sure this is rare if legit. I just checked John Walter's guide again and it does not list a 1/8 for the 750 and I have one of those so not being in the guide doesn't mean it isn't real. I have a couple 720's that are 2 inches wide so I know they made them wide.
Pat

[Peter Scoma]

Rose Antique Tools has old stanley catalogs that are available for free download. A quick look will tell you exactly what sizes were produced.

PJS

[Ron Kent]

I don't see where they were made, 1943 or 1958 catalogs. Mine may be more recent, ca. 1960's, don't really know. They do not have 720 number, just Stanley, Made In USA. The 1 3/4" Is 9" long (blade & socket). Ron.

[Derek Cohen]

I recall Joel (TFWW) remarking that the 1 3/4" was the rare size for the #750. It was made but obviously in small quantities. Perhaps the #720 was the same.

With regard use of sizes , I am with Sean. My preference is up to 1", in fact I prefer the balance of a 3/4" over the 1", and I only occasionally use a 1 1/2". I would not miss the larger sizes if they were not made.

Regards from Perth

Derek

[Ron Kent]

[James Pickering]

Ron: go to page 8 (new tools) of the April 1934 Stanley Tools catalog -- Rose Antique Tools site PDF download at -- http://www.roseantiquetools.com/id16.html -- and you will find the No. 720 chisel listing that includes the 1 3/4" width. It also appears in my copy of the 1929 Stanley Tools catalog (the first time the 7xx series chisels were listed). My 1936 catalog does not list the 1 3/4" width for the 720 however, nor do any of my subsequent Stanley catalogs I own, leading me to believe that Stanley dropped that chisel width in the early 1930s.

James

[George Clark]

My 1939 Stanley catalog lists both the 750 and 720 in 1 3/4"

[Erik Manchester]

James,I have two 720s in identical unused shape that I picked up a few years ago thinking I might use them. Mine are 5/8 and 3/8 so between us we would have half a set. Since acquiring these 720s, I picked up a full set of LN chisels so I fully intend to get rid of my 720s to a collector, I just have not gotten around to it. With e-Bay charging the fees it does, I don't think I will go that route. I have not seen new ones go for much less than $50.