Hi Steve, and thanks for the welcome!

I have also puzzled over the handle setup on the Lancashire plane. 
Think about having the plane in your hands and a long board in front and 
to the right of you, and you desire to create a mitered edge.  To make 
the cut, you want to push the plane down and into the board.  That means 
you want to work on the near side of the board, and the handle is in the 
correct position to direct the force into the board.  If the handle were 
reversed, as a right-handed person you would have to work the far edge 
of the board.  In that position you would need to pull the plane toward 
you to maintain good contact.  That would probably be very difficult to 
control and certainly fatiguing.

Maybe this is fuzzy thinking, but it helps me to rationalize the design.

John Maki

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Steve Reynolds" 
To: "John & Carol Maki" 
Cc: 
Sent: Saturday, December 23, 2006 2:16 AM
Subject: Re: [OldTools] Bio (with improved photo link)

>
> John "Minitool" Maki wrote:
>
>>
>> Photos at:    http://www.flickr.com/gp/13976390@N.../9kC6S3
>
> Welcome to the Porch John.  Grab that miniature rocker over there and 
> enjoy your stay.
>
> I was puzzling over the Lancashire Miter Plane.  I can't see how it 
> can be comfortably used unless one is a southpaw.  Is this plane made 
> for left handers?
>
> Regards,
> Steve - with a box from Blighty under the tree, waiting for Christmas.
>
> 

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