For most of the Stanley planes, you could also check out your local sunday old-junk market. There are some bargains to be had, but don´t forget to visualize the cost of a new blade.

I went to mine and got an ancient brazilian made "Tramontina" block plane for US$5 and ordered a new Stanley block plane iron from LeeValley. On the same day, I also got a Stanley N.4 Type 11 with the old frog design from about 1918 (US$ 12) and a wartime n.6C fore plane (US$ 25). Both needed new a (locally bought) iron though...

The big n6 is excellent for canoe paddle blades and jointing rough boards before stripping, the n4 get clamped to the strongback and makes short work of miters as I stroke the strips over it, and the block plane gets used for everything else.