Sanford wrote:
I have been away from woodworking for a couple of years (not by
choice).
I used to buy my Record hand planes from Garrett-Wade but they don't
have them. Is the company out of business?

I bought one of their low angle block planes for about $35 around 2000
now the cheapest I can find is $99 from Lee Valley.

Have prices really gone up that much on hand planes?

There's a big split in the market now.

The "normal" plane makers are pretty much dying.

Planes are now either cheap "use once" handyman grade,
or premium (drool) grade. There are very few buyers in the middle.

The $99 block plane from Lee Valley is a dramatically better
tool than anything record have made in the last 40 years.

(they once made a #18 which was very, very good, hence the 40 year
qualification)

BugBear