Conveyor belting and heavy rubber splice work — a limber .058" blade is exactly wrong for the force belting demands; that is the .083" full-size square points' job (60450/60510 and the wide 8" pair), and the light #6 does not substitute for them.
The heaviest flush trimming on dense built-up edges — the stiffer #5 is steadier there.
Sole-leather thinning — the sole skiver's (55190) .072" shaving job.
Fine detail and tight corners — the wide 1" blade is a reach tool, not the narrow #2's corner knife.
Piercing a cut inside a panel — the square end refuses; that is the English shoe knife's (55500) point.
The #6's advantage is the single long draw; hesitation lets a long line wander, so clamp the guide and pull the cut continuously with the square end riding the board. Low to slice; flatter to taper. Strap and belt work moves between a low draw cut and a flatter shaving taper — learn both angles. Respect the limber gauge. The .058" blade is tuned for soft leather and fabric; if the material makes it flex where you don't want it to, the job wants the stiffer .065" #5 or the .083" production knives, not more force on the #6. No finger guard — hand behind the edge. The bare hardwood handle offers no stop, so on any forceful pull the support hand stays behind the stroke; policy-documented force work belongs on the guarded full-size square points (siblings). The heritage contract: hardened high-carbon steel, maintained not fed — stone it keen, strop it, and wipe it dry after damp or oily work, because carbon rusts overnight. The maintained edge over years is the deal, and it is what sets this wing apart from the consumable utility blades.
Asked before buying
BUYER QUESTIONS, ANSWERED BEFORE YOU ORDER
What is the #6 best at?
Long draw cuts — cutting and tapering straps and belts, trimming larger assembled leather, running long lines through soft leather and fabric. It is the longest (5") and widest (1") numbered square point.
Why is the bigger #6 less stiff than the #5?
Because it rolls back to the light .058" gauge, where the #5 is .065". The #6 is tuned for reach and a lively edge in soft stock, not for the flush-trim stiffness of the #5.
Can I splice conveyor belt with it?
No — belting is .083" force work for the full-size square points. A limber .058" blade is the wrong tool; use the belt knives (60450/60510).
6 or the 60570 of the same size?
Same 5" × 1" silhouette, different gauge: the #6 is limber .058" (leather and fabric bench work), the 60570 is stiff .065" (production cutting). Pick by how hard you'll lean on it.
Rust and upkeep?
High-carbon steel: stone, strop, wipe dry after wet or oily work. Standard for every fixed blade in this wing.
