Stanley No. 289 Skew Cutter Rabbet Plane – The Premium Adjustable Fence, Skew-Iron Filletster Plane for Advanced Joinery
1. Introduction
The Stanley No. 289 Skew Cutter Rabbet Plane is one of Stanley’s most advanced, highly engineered, and desirable rabbet planes—designed specifically for clean, accurate, cross-grain rabbeting, filletsters, and precision joinery work. With its skewed cutting iron, sliding adjustable fence, depth stop, and full-width blade, the No. 289 excels at producing smooth, crisp rabbets in even the most challenging grain conditions.
Professionals working in cabinetry, patternmaking, architectural millwork, sash and door construction, and furniture building valued the No. 289 for its superior cutting characteristics and versatility. Today, it is one of the most collectible and capable rabbet planes Stanley ever made.
This article provides a complete guide to the Stanley No. 289 Skew Cutter Rabbet Plane—including history, features, restoration, usage tips, and collector value.
2. History of the Stanley No. 289 Plane
The No. 289 was introduced at a time when Stanley was producing its most sophisticated filletster and rabbet planes.
Historical Highlights
- Introduced around 1911–1912
- Entered Stanley’s lineup as a premium filletster and rabbet plane
- Featured a right-hand skewed cutter for ultra-smooth cross-grain rabbets
- Adjustable fence allowed left- or right-hand referencing
- Less common than the No. 78, making it more valuable today
- Sweetheart-era examples are especially sought after
- Later production continued into the early/mid 20th century
It was marketed as a high-performance, high-precision alternative to simpler rabbet planes like the No. 78 and No. 190 series.
3. Manufacturer Background – Stanley Rule & Level / Stanley Works
Founded in 1843, Stanley became the worldwide leader in woodworking planes through precision engineering and the ability to serve every specialty within the craft. The No. 289 represents Stanley’s high-end, trade-focused design philosophy.
Stanley Innovations Reflected in the No. 289
- Skewed iron for enhanced cross-grain performance
- Fully adjustable sliding fence
- Depth stop for repeatable rabbets
- Full-width cutting action
- Heavy-duty casting for stability
This plane highlights Stanley’s dedication to professional-grade joinery tools.
4. Design and Features of the Stanley No. 289 Skew Cutter Rabbet Plane
The No. 289 is one of the most feature-rich rabbet planes Stanley ever offered.
Specifications
- Length: approx. 10 inches
- Iron width: approx. 1½ inches
- Blade orientation: right-hand skew, bevel-down
- Body: cast iron
- Fence: adjustable, removable
- Depth stop: included
Core Features
- Skewed cutting iron (cuts exceptionally clean across the grain)
- Removable, sliding fence to guide consistent-width rabbets
- Depth stop for controlling rabbet depth
- Full-width cutting iron for flush shoulder trimming
- Bevel-down blade with lever cap
- Machined sides and sole for precision referencing
- Large horn-style handle comfortable for forward-driving force
- Right-hand skew orientation (optimized for most woodworkers)
Why the No. 289 Is a Premium Rabbet Plane
- Skewed iron reduces tear-out dramatically
- The fence allows repeatability not found on standard rabbet planes
- Performs both with-grain and cross-grain rabbet cuts smoothly
- More refined and capable than the No. 78 and No. 278
- Clean shearing action leaves crisp, square shoulders
The No. 289 is widely considered one of the best traditional rabbet planes ever produced.
5. Usage & Applications
The No. 289 excels in joinery applications where precision and tear-out control is critical.
Ideal Uses
- Cutting rabbets (rebates) with clean walls
- Trimming tenon cheeks and shoulders
- Cross-grain rabbeting using the skew action
- Creating filletsters with fence and depth stop
- Fitting doors, drawers, and cabinet parts
- Truing and refining joinery before assembly
- Patternmaking and architectural millwork
Where the No. 289 Outperforms Other Rabbet Planes
- Cross-grain cuts (the skew iron excels here)
- Fine furniture and cabinet joinery
- When repeatable rabbet widths matter
- When a cleaner finish is required straight off the plane
The combination of skew iron + fence + depth stop makes it uniquely versatile.
6. Restoration of a Stanley No. 289 Plane
Due to its adjustable components and skewed iron, careful restoration is important.
Typical Restoration Steps
- Disassemble the iron, cap, fence, depth stop, rods, and screws
- Remove rust using Evapo-Rust or a citric acid bath
- Lightly lap the sole and sides (accuracy matters for shoulders)
- Sharpen the skewed iron at the correct angle
- Clean and oil the fence rod and locking screws
- Preserve japanning wherever possible
- Ensure fence aligns squarely and slides smoothly
- Test the tool on both long-grain and cross-grain rabbets
Optional Upgrades
- Hock or Veritas replacement skewed iron
- Polished sole and sides for smoother action
- Waxing fence and sole for friction reduction
Restoration Mistakes to Avoid
- Incorrect skew-angle sharpening
- Bending the fence rod
- Overlapping the sole (keep it true, not polished flat like a smoother)
- Unnecessarily removing japanning
- Damaging the depth-stop threads
A well-restored No. 289 becomes an elegant and highly capable joinery plane.
7. Collectability & Value
The No. 289 is highly collectible due to its advanced design, skewed iron, and lower production numbers compared to more common rabbet planes.
Typical Value Range
- User-grade: $120–$180
- Good condition: $180–$260
- Sweetheart-era: $260–$375
- Excellent or boxed examples: $375–$550+
Value Influencing Factors
- Complete fence, rod, and depth stop (missing parts reduce value sharply)
- Skew iron originality (Sweetheart logos highly prized)
- Japanning condition
- Early vs. later casting details
- Unmodified cutting iron skew angle
- Square, damage-free sides and sole
A complete No. 289 is significantly more valuable than a partial one.
8. Finding Manuals, Parts & Additional Resources
Documentation Sources
- Stanley catalogs (1910s–1940s)
- VintageMachinery.org archives
- Blood & Gore skew rabbet-plane listings
- Stanley type-study resources
- Tool collectors clubs and forums
Replacement Parts
- Hock Tools / Veritas skew-blade replacements
- Reproduction fences and rods
- Depth stop screws from specialty restorers
- Tool meets and collectors for early parts
- eBay for blades, rods, and locking screws
Original fences are often missing—planes with intact fences command much higher prices.
9. Final Thoughts
The Stanley No. 289 Skew Cutter Rabbet Plane stands as one of Stanley’s most refined and versatile rabbet-plane designs. With its skewed cutting iron, adjustable fence, depth stop, and full-width cutter, it delivers a level of performance unmatched by simpler rabbet planes.
For woodworkers, the No. 289 is a remarkably smooth and accurate tool for rabbets, tenons, filletsters, and cross-grain joinery.
For collectors, it is a premium, highly desirable example of Stanley’s advanced specialty-plane engineering.
Properly tuned, the No. 289 remains one of the best-performing traditional rabbet planes ever made.
Quick Reference Summary
| Category | Details |
|---|---|
| Model | Stanley No. 289 Skew Cutter Rabbet Plane |
| Manufacturer | Stanley Rule & Level / Stanley Works |
| Era | 1911–Mid 20th Century |
| Length / Iron | ~10″ / ~1½″ (skewed) |
| Key Features | Skewed iron, fence, depth stop |
| Best Uses | Rabbets, filletsters, tenons, cross-grain trimming |
| Rarity | High (especially complete examples) |
| Typical Value | $120–$550+ |
| Restoration Difficulty | Moderate |
| Collectability | Very High |
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