Lie-Nielsen’s 073 is an all-metal shoulder plane based on the classic English design of Edward Preston. The body is cast from ductile iron, a strong and resilient material that is less brittle than gray iron. The tool has a highly polished bronze lever cap, and the mouth opening can be adjusted easily by a movable toe shoe. A screw in front regulates the movement in and out, and a screw on top locks the shoe in place.

The cryogenically tempered A2 steel blade adjusted smoothly with very little backlash, but changing the depth did have the problem of slightly altering the blade’s lateral position.

The body was ground absolutely flat and square, although some of the edges were a bit sharp. The blade fit the body well, allowing me to use the plane on either side without having to adjust the blade. Honing the blade prior to use was all it took to put the Lie-Nielsen 073 into action.

The plane’s tall body gave fingers and palms good clearance from longer tenons, and the wide blade covered ground quickly when sizing tenon cheeks. I found the 073 to be excellent on large work that required a two-handed grasp, but the tool’s length, width, and weight made it less ideal for one-handed use.

This plane is a rock-solid performer. If you’re looking for a larger shoulder plane, the Lie-Nielsen 073 is sure to please.

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