I turned a smoothing plane iron into a scrub iron has a much more pronounced curve on the blade great for going across the grain or with it to even up the surface, of rough sawn timber to bring it down to a more even surface, also with wild grain as you put it, cut a cross the grain, it cut it to shorter length so won't tear out as much, then use a smoother and a scraper, paper to finish if needed.
Yup, done that also.
Then bought a very basic metal plane for eight quid, it doesn't even have a threaded blade advance adjuster and looks like a Stanley 40 scrub, I attacked the mouth with a file to open it up and now I have a scrub. Scrubs don't have to be made by Veritas or the like, can be just a cheapo.
Or like you have done can be a No 4 which almost everyone with a plane has. Think the 4 is the most common handplane in existance and thats for a reason. Can be adapted to most tasks but light enough to carry about in a tool bass.
Scrubs are pretty simple tools to be honest and when worked across the grain make a difference fast.
British Red might laugh at this because I've not really seen the point of old resharpanable handsaws in the past but thats because powertools are used far more on site and I'm often working in less that ideal conditions where its simpler to just use five quid hardpoints.
Thing is, in a small workshop I'm starting to see the need for handtools, they don't make so much noise, dust or in the long run cost as much.
Which is why I have a few old Disstons and other assorted second/tenth hand handsaws kicking about waiting for me to sharpen them.
I've sharpened backsaws before and setting up for ripcuts isn't so bad. Lets face it, I have the time now.