Spokeshave (sponhøvel)
A spokeshave is a hand plane with a short sole and a handle on either side of the blade. It shapes and finishes wood, including curved details such as chair legs. Norwegian names include sponhøvel and skavhøvel; the corresponding German term is Schweifhobel.
Flat or rounded sole
The sole controls how the cutting edge meets the wood. Stanley specifies a flat sole for flat and convex surfaces, and a rounded sole for concave surfaces in the models concerned. The profile therefore deserves close examination when identifying the intended work.
Distinguishing a drawknife
A spokeshave's sole supports the cutting edge against the timber. A drawknife has no equivalent plane sole. Both tools can have two handles, so handle count alone is insufficient for identification.
Older examples
Record sole profile, blade, adjustment mechanism and legible maker's marks. Check for replacement blades and altered soles. Measurements and model numbers in a modern catalogue should not automatically be applied to an older tool that merely looks similar.
