Quote Originally Posted by NCArcher View Post
It's also an indication of what was mass produced and affordable. I'm sure we'd all have a couple of Norrises as our favourites if we all had them.
A good point, NC - I did notice a distinct lack of infills in the lists people were posting. The mass-produced models also did the job, perhaps not quite as well, but if well-fettled, they are pretty good...

Quote Originally Posted by NCArcher View Post
.... (can you tell I would really like a nice Norris smoother and yes I saw Ian's A5 for sale but it cost more than all my planes put together I could never slip that one past the minister of finance)
Ah well, I think practicality has to take precedence when you are starting out. I lusted after an infill for more than 30 years, but it wasn't 'til long after the kids had left home that I was able to indulge myself. Acquiring the Norris was a big moment for me. However, after making my own dovetailed infill, I have two very similar planes, and one or the other is likely to be neglected. I am reluctant to part with the Norris after wanting it so badly, but eventually decided to stick with my "one in, one out" policy and relinquish it to a new guardian. I'm actually asking considerably less than I paid for it (from a dealer), but I've had the use of it for close to 10 years, and it's more in line with its being a post WW2 example & not having the bling of Rosewood stuffing. These are great planes, no doubt, but the prices are strongly influenced by market forces.....

Cheers,