porter cable rabbetting router bit size confusing

[mastercabman]

i went to home depot to buy a 1/2" rabbetting router bit.looking at the choices,i see(porter cable) a 3/8" bit,then i noticed the 1/2" and bought it.when i got to the job,i was getting to open the package,when i noticed the specs. on the side.it showed that ,from the bearing to the edge of the cutter,it was 3/8"?  i looked at the front again and it did show 1/2".i call porter cable and they toll me that the size refers to the size of the cutter.the specs. shows that to.but i don't think that's the way it should be.i took the bit back.i then went to woodcraft and found a real 1/2" rabbetting bit. am i right?when you are looking for a 1/2"rabbetting bit,it should be 1/2" from the bearing to the edge of the cutter?                                   

 

[Woodenfish]

I've only known that the size of the rabbetting bit to be the depth of cut and not the width. The width had always seemed to be a standard 3/8". Was it the WoodCraft brand that has a 1/2" width? Were there other widths available too?

 

[mastercabman]

woodcraft has the whiteside brand and it's available in 1/2" and 3/8".freud has a kit,you just replace the size of the bearing,witch comes in several size,to get 1/4",3/8",1/2",5/8"and also a bearing that can make flush cut.(there was other size but i don't remember).the size of the rabbetting bit to be the depth? you can adjust that with your router.and why does porter cable has a 3/8"bit ?(the porter cable 3/8" bit also cuts 3/8"width)