BenchTrue

Veritas No. 4 vs Lie-Nielsen No. 4: Premium Plane Showdown

Both are exceptional planes that justify their price. The Veritas has the engineering edge with PM-V11 steel and the Norris-style adjuster. The Lie-Nielsen has the aesthetic and heritage edge with A2 steel and exceptional fit and finish. In practice at the bench they are peer tools.

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At a glance

Spec Veritas Custom Bench Plane No. 4 (Smoothing Plane) Check price on Amazon Lie-Nielsen No. 4 Smoothing Plane (A2 Steel) Check price on Amazon
Price $295-$350 $325-$375
Our rating 4.9 / 5 4.9 / 5
Best for Intermediate to advanced woodworkers who have outgrown a budget plane and want to buy once and be done. Woodworkers who want the iconic American production plane and are willing to pay for the fit and finish.
Steel PM-V11 (edge retention edge) A2 (slightly easier to sharpen)
Adjuster Norris-style, no backlash Traditional Bailey pattern
Price $295-$350 $325-$375
Origin Canadian (Lee Valley) American

The two options in depth

Rockler
Veritas Custom Bench Plane No. 4 (Smoothing Plane)
4.9 / 5.0

Veritas Custom Bench Plane No. 4 (Smoothing Plane)

The most highly engineered production smoothing plane available. Veritas Custom planes use a 0.156-inch-thick PM-V11 iron, a Norris-style adjuster for precise depth and lateral control, and a ductile iron body machined to tight tolerances. The PM-V11 steel holds an edge longer than A2 with similar sharpening ease. The community considers Veritas and Lie-Nielsen peer tools at slightly different price points.

Best for Intermediate to advanced woodworkers who have outgrown a budget plane and want to buy once and be done.
  • PM-V11 steel in the thick iron holds an edge longer than A2 with similar ease of sharpening
  • Norris-style adjuster gives precise control with no backlash
  • Ductile iron body machined to tight tolerances - minimal sole lapping needed
  • Premium price - a significant purchase that rewards woodworkers who have already learned hand planes
Price $295-$350 Check price on Amazon
Rockler
Lie-Nielsen No. 4 Smoothing Plane (A2 Steel)
4.9 / 5.0

Lie-Nielsen No. 4 Smoothing Plane (A2 Steel)

The American-made benchmark smoothing plane, ground from ductile iron with an A2 steel iron ground to a precise 25-degree primary bevel. Lie-Nielsen planes arrive ready to tune and have been the gold standard for production hand planes in the American hand-tool community for decades. The feel and finish are exceptional.

Best for Woodworkers who want the iconic American production plane and are willing to pay for the fit and finish.
  • A2 iron holds an edge through demanding hardwood work
  • Exceptional fit and finish - a pleasure to use and to look at in the shop
  • American-made with a track record of customer service and part availability
  • Price premium over Veritas for planes that are engineering peers in practice
Price $325-$375 Check price on Amazon

Which should you buy?

Buy the Veritas if engineering and edge retention matter most to you - PM-V11 is genuinely excellent steel and the Norris adjuster is the most precise lateral and depth control available on a production plane. Buy the Lie-Nielsen if the aesthetic and the American heritage resonate with how you want to equip your shop - it is an equally good plane with exceptional fit and finish and a company with a decades-long track record of customer service. Neither decision is wrong.

Common questions

Which plane holds an edge longer?

The Veritas PM-V11 iron has a measurable edge-retention advantage over A2 in controlled tests, with longer time between sharpenings in hard wood. In daily use the difference is real but not dramatic - both irons last a long session in hardwood. The PM-V11 advantage matters more in very hard exotics or if you sharpen infrequently.

Is the Norris-style adjuster on the Veritas really better?

The Norris adjuster (a single large knob that controls both depth and lateral in a combined motion) is precise and backlash-free, which makes fine adjustments faster and more intuitive than a traditional Bailey pattern with separate lateral and depth controls. Many woodworkers prefer it once they get used to it. It is one of the genuinely practical differences between the two planes.

Can I upgrade the Lie-Nielsen with a PM-V11 iron?

Lie-Nielsen does not sell PM-V11 irons for their planes - they sell A2 as their standard iron. Veritas sells PM-V11 irons for their own planes. If you own a Lie-Nielsen and want PM-V11 performance, a Hock Tools custom iron or a Veritas replacement iron that fits the Stanley/LN blade seat is available, though compatibility requires checking the specific model.