: a WoodCraft store opened at my local shopping center the other day.

: spokeshaves..looks like gold plated hand planers

Those were Lie-Nielsen bronze bodied planes and spokeshaves. Good stuff, but a bit pricey. For equally good stuff (but not bronze) at lower prices, go to www.leevalley.com and check out their Veritas line of planes, spokeshaves and other tools. I own one L-N plane, but if I had it to do over again, I'd buy Veritas. I have several of their tools and they're excellent.