The family and I went to my wife parents Sat. While there my FIL and I run over to his shop to get something for the kids to play with and while there he tells me that he has something for me.

He disappears for a couple of minutes and comes back with two Stanley Bailey #3s. The first one was a friend of his grandfathers plane. It has a '10 patent date but the plane is cracked and repaired on one side. The other is a newer plane. It has a plastic depth knob which makes me think that it is from the WWII area.

Save for the crack they are both in very good shape with most of the Japanning. I haven't had a chance to clean them up however and look forward to doing so and palying with them.

For the question: If I have a #3 do I need a #4? Is a #3 used like a smaller #4?

I'm not at all familiar with a #3.

Thanks for the help.