Review on WoodRiver Low Angle Block Plane With Adjustable Mouth by Roberto Nastanovich

I've been a woodworker for going on five decades (not counting my teen or earlier years of messing in my dad's shop). I served a four year carpenter apprenticeship, and for the past couple of decades have been an advanced furniture builder. I am also an unrepentent tool collector and will one day find myself living in a van down by the river.With all my tools (saws, planes, chisels and HUNDREDS of plumb bobs), why would I purchase this Woodriver block plane? First it was on sale. Second curiousity. I wanted to see how Woodcraft competed against Lee Valley and Lie Neilsen. Well, in short, they don't and please note, this is not an anti-import rant!This plane is a copy of the Stanley #18. Unlike the Stanley, this plane is much too heavy, with a block plane being a convenience tool for simple touch up tasks. The knuckle cap also is tricky to put into proper adjustment: too tight and you can't adjust the blade. Too loose and the cap flops loose. Also, the material is heavy with rough edges-not conducive to comfort in your hand. The blade sharpened easy enough, and was only decent in edge retention.I could go on and with comments, but in short, if you have large, calloused hands, this plane will work for you. Otherwise shop elsewhere for new or vintage. At half the price, this would be a buy, but only if you had to have new. If Woodcraft wants to compete with LN or LV, this plane needs a bit more refinement and with a bit of lightening, resolving knuckle cap issues and a tad more attention to heat treating of the blade, this block plane will compete with the best of the best.