Exhibit 5.1

[Letterhead of The Stanley Works]

December 4, 2009

The Stanley Works

1000 Stanley Drive

New Britain, CT 06053

Ladies and Gentlemen:

I am General Counsel of The Stanley Works, a Connecticut corporation (the “Company”). I refer to the Registration Statement on Form S-4 (the “Registration Statement”), to be filed on the date hereof by the Company with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “Commission”). The Registration Statement relates to the registration of shares of the Company’s common stock, par value $2.50 per share (the “Common Stock”), that may be issued by the Company in connection with the merger of Blue Jay Acquisition Corp., a Maryland corporation and a wholly owned subsidiary of the Company, with and into The Black and Decker Corporation, a Maryland corporation (the “Merger”), pursuant to the terms of the Agreement and Plan of Merger dated as of November 2, 2009 (the “Merger Agreement”).

In connection with this opinion, I have examined originals or copies, certified or otherwise identified to my satisfaction, of (i) the Registration Statement; (ii) the Merger Agreement; (iii) the Restated Certificate of Incorporation of the Company, as amended to date (the “Certificate of Incorporation”); (iv) the By-Laws of the Company, as currently in effect (the “By-Laws”); and (v) a specimen certificate evidencing the Common Stock. I have also examined originals or copies, certified or otherwise identified to my satisfaction, of such other documents, certificates and records as I have deemed necessary or appropriate as a basis for the opinions set forth herein.

In my examination, I have assumed the legal capacity of all natural persons, the genuineness of all signatures, the authenticity of all documents submitted to me as originals, the conformity to original documents of all documents submitted to me as facsimile, electronic, certified or photostatic copies and the authenticity of the originals of such copies. I have also assumed that the stock certificate evidencing any Common Stock issued will conform to the specimen certificate which I examined and will be duly executed and delivered.

The opinions expressed herein are limited to the laws of the State of Connecticut and I do not express any opinion herein concerning any other law.

Based on and subject to the foregoing and to the other qualifications and limitations set forth herein, I am of the opinion that all necessary corporate action on the part of the Company has been taken to authorize the issuance of the Common Stock in connection with the Merger, and when (i) the Registration Statement, as finally amended (including all necessary post-effective amendments), has become effective under the Securities Act of 1933 (the “Act”) and (ii) the Common Stock has been issued in accordance with the terms and conditions set forth in the Merger Agreement and certificates representing the same have been duly executed and delivered by the proper officers of the Company, such Common Stock will be duly authorized, legally issued, fully paid and nonassessable, provided that the consideration therefor is not less than the par value thereof. In rendering the opinion set forth in this paragraph, I have assumed that, at the time of issuance of any Common Stock, the Certificate of Incorporation, the By-Laws and the Connecticut Business Corporations Act shall not have been amended so as to affect the validity of such issuance.

I hereby consent to the filing of this opinion with the Commission as an exhibit to the Registration Statement. I also hereby consent to the use of my name under the heading “Legal Matters” in the prospectus which forms a part of the Registration Statement. In giving this consent, I do not thereby admit that I am within the category of persons whose consent is required under Section 7 of the Act or the rules and regulations of the Commission promulgated thereunder. This opinion is expressed as of the date hereof, and I disclaim any undertaking to advise you of any subsequent changes in the facts stated or assumed herein or of any subsequent changes in applicable law.

Very truly yours,

/s/  Bruce H. Beatt

Bruce H. Beatt

General Counsel