This is a really nice scrub plane. Japanning is over 98% intact. Handle & tote are firm & solid, with no signs of wear or damage. The AA trademark sweetheart stamp (1922-1935) is very clear and easily readable. The sole is true and flat. No signs of wear or damage. Plane appears to have been used very little if at all.

The Stanley No. 40 Scrub Plane is a specialized hand tool designed to aggressively remove large amounts of wood from rough lumber. Featuring a heavily curved (cambered) blade and an extra-wide mouth, it takes deep, narrow shavings to quickly flatten bowed or twisted boards before using smoother planes.

The “Sweetheart” era, spanning roughly from 1920 to 1935, is considered a golden age of Stanley tool manufacturing. Tools from this period bear the heart-shaped “S.W.” (Stanley Works) logo and are highly sought after by woodworkers for their premium steel and high-quality castings.

Key Features

Blade Camber: The iron is distinctly radiused. This curved shape scoops out material—leaving a scalloped surface—to take down a board’s thickness much faster than a standard jack plane.
Wide Mouth: The body has a large opening to prevent chips and deep shavings from clogging the throat.
Maneuverability: It is shorter and narrower than a typical smoothing or jack plane, making it extremely easy to handle and control across rough timber.

Because vintage Stanley No. 40 planes—especially those with original Sweetheart irons—are rare, they command premium prices on the collector’s market.