This German-made tool has an all-wood, hornbeam body, and is toothed to a rock-hard lignum vitae sole that glides over wood. The plane I received was slightly out of true, but flattening its sole required little effort. The mouth is adjustable not only for use but also because the double iron that’s installed from the plane’s sole requires the mouth to open wide and allow the iron’s passage.

Unlike most wooden planes, the E.C. Emmerich doesn’t use a wedge to hold its blade. Rather, it uses the Primus adjustment mechanism. The depth adjuster works in harmony with a spring bar to reduce backlash and blade chatter, but this system made blade changes cumbersome. Two adjusting screws on the plane’s side did an excellent job of setting the blade laterally.

The plane was best suited for two-handed use—a one-handed grasp was awkward—and the plane’s tall profile gave my fingers ample clearance from obstructions. Although the plane was capable of end-grain work, it excelled at long-grain rabbet work, and its 50° pitch reduced torn grain in figured wood.

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