Hence it is made small, 3-1/2" to 8" long, the clamp is rounded so as to act as a handle, and the cutter is lowered to an angle of about 20 deg.

to make the plane easy to grasp.

The lower angle of the cutter makes it necessary that the bevel be on the upper side.

Otherwise, to give clearance, the bevel would have to be made so long and so thin as to be weak.

By putting the bevel up, the angle between the wood and the cutter is maintained practically as in the smooth-plane.