I'm also a fan of hand planes. It's worth noting that Lie-Nielsen Toolworks currently makes very, very nice updates of these old designs with blades made of modern tool steel. Arguably they are the best bench planes ever made, even though old Stanley planes are superb. Here's Lie Nielsen's version of the No. 8.[0]

[0] https://www.lie-nielsen.com/products/no-8-jointer-plane?path...