Further to my queries about my own Norris 6G, a kindly reader has sent some pics of his own (No.6) plane, which seem to have the same characteristic details that I questioned in my plane. Thanks goes out for these pics, it’s sometimes very hard to find good photos for comparisons.
No, not more news about a new mobile phone service, but I now have some pics of another Norris 6G, courtesy of Darryl Hutchinson at Classic Planes. Darryl’s pictures are below and I think you will agree my own plane hardly differs. Compare the pictures below, good to see another one in the wild.
Darryl’s plane
My plane
Darryl’s plane
My plane
Darryl’s plane
My plane
Darryls plane
The only noticeable thing being the lack of screw under the handle. (As Paul Blanche pointed out in the comments on the page, these planes sometimes came without.)
So, yes, I’m naming this a rare Norris 6G.
(Update 27.02.2016)
A reader has kindly sent me some pictures of his own Norris 6 plane. It has the same very long horn on the tote and also no screw under the handle. it certainly makes me feel better about my own plane being completely original. Here are the pics from the kindly reader.
This plane turned up in a recent job lot I bought. I assumed it to be a very nice No.6 plane from Norris with considerable weight to it. However, the jury is still out, as I’m having trouble locating reference for one that has exactly the same characteristics, especially with a gunmetal body?
** First Update** My first thought before I checked out pics of a No.6 was that it was a No.17, but a very knowledgeable dealer tells me the no.17 was always coffin-sided. Can anyone help me out with confirming the i.d of this plane please? It has a regular Norris stamp on the gunmetal lever cap.
**Second Update** This may even be a plane made by the previous owner, whom I have found out used to be a toolmaker. Could it be that he has created such a wonderful plane and added the Norris cap? The build quality is absolutely amazing and the woodwork French polished. After consulting several very well-known dealers, two have said it’s probably made by Norris as a ‘special’ and one thinks the owner made it himself.
The lack of a screw under the handle makes me wonder, but also the edges to the metalwork are just so crisp. It doesn’t ‘feel’ like a Norris in the hand, it feels better, to be honest!