KUNZ 7" smoothing plane
with corrugated bottom
After a couple hours of "exhaustive" research, I was able to find little about the early plane maker, Gebrüder Kunz, except that he ran a family owned business in Fürstenwalde, Germany with origins around 1910. His partners were Karl Kunz and Gustav Kunz, both business owners in Fürstenwalde. Not much information about the company during or after WWII except that Fürstenwalde was part of East Germany until 1990. Coincidentally, the Kunz Plane Company was purchased (?) or the name acquired in 1992-3 by Tresselt-Schlüter GmbH of Grossbreitenbach, Thuringia, Germany and Kunz planes (and other Kunz tools) have been produced by that company ever since.
The more modern design of this No 2 size would indicate a later production, I'm guessing post 1992. Two other Kunz No 2 size planes in my collection are very similar, one with black painted tote and knob, both smooth bottom. This example is the only corrugated example of any size Kunz plane that I've ever come across and there is some photo evidence that the corrugations may have been added post production or perhaps a prototype of an idea that was never implemented.
 Small Collection of 7" Kunz smoothersThe example displayed is on the far right. You can see the similarities and contrasting wood fininshes. The left and center examples are smooth bottom. |  KUNZ 7" (#2 size) Smoothing PlaneBased largely on the Bailey design, this out of production #2 size plane has what appears to be cherry wood tote/knob and finished with a tinted(?) shellac or lacquer. The original finish had degraded and subsequently refinished. The tote sticker is original. |  KUNZ 7" (#2 size) Smoothing PlaneAfter the cleaning and tuning, I ran the plane over some soft pine. I found the adjusting to be a bit crude and imprecise and difficult to hold a setting once locked in. But with practice and effort I was able to create some decent shavings. |
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 KUNZ 7" (#2 size) Smoothing PlaneThis particular example clearly shows some damage from moisture with light pitting on both sides and the bottom. It otherwise appears little used but sadly neglected for years. |  KUNZ 7" (#2 size) Smoothing Plane |  KUNZ 7" (#2 size) Smoothing Plane |
 KUNZ 7" (#2 size) Smoothing Plane |  KUNZ 7" (#2 size) Smoothing Plane |  KUNZ 7" (#2 size) Smoothing PlaneNote the insert in the lever cap screw hole. All three examples have the same modification. |
 KUNZ 7" (#2 size) Smoothing PlaneBailey pattern frog design. |  KUNZ 7" (#2 size) Smoothing Plane |  After market corrugations?Uneven corrugation endpoints might be an indicator of after market modification. |
 KUNZ 7" (#2 size) Smoothing PlaneI've not found any evidence that would indicate that KUNZ offerred a corrugated plane of any size. This includes advertising, adding to the case that the corrugations were added after the plane left the factory. |  KUNZ 7" (#2 size) Smoothing Plane |