The Knife

[Chava]

Then there's the old ankle holster. Or better yet, stick it down the front of yer trousers...er...maybe not!

In all seriousness, however, it's an interesting question. Even given a specially-made holster/pocket/scabbard, a knife that long is very hard to get at in a hurry, and there are all sorts of possibilities of it snagging on its own handle or whatever. Also, and I could be wrong here, the shorter you are, the harder it is to get at it, since you've got less leverage on the pull than you would if you were taller. And no one seems to have the Ripper as particularly tall.

I think it's very likely that he manufactured some kind of holder for it within his clothing, like a long pocket on one side of his jacket. But--as I've written on another thread--I also think that the Chapman murder was unplanned and may have taken place either on his way to or from work. In which case the knife is part of his job, unless he always carried it with him just in case.

Either way, I think sometimes we take the knife for granted. Whereas it may be able to tell us more than we at first think about its owner.

[Jon Guy]

Seriously, though, how would having to roll up his trouser-leg (Masonic conspiracy notwithstanding) make accessing his knife any easier than whipping it out of his jacket?

Obviously, one has to be wearing shorts for the old calf ploy to work.

Seriously, when he`s crouching by the body the knife is there by his right hand, I just tried it, I `m surprised you didn`t hear the crack in me knee when I got up!!

[Sam Flynn]

The best place for secrecy, safety and access would have been in a sheath tied to his calf.

He had livestock with him, Jon? Oh, I see what you mean

Seriously, though, how would having to roll up his trouser-leg (Masonic conspiracy notwithstanding) make accessing his knife any easier than whipping it out of his jacket?

[Jon Guy]

Hello

The best place for secrecy, safety and access would have been in a sheath tied to his calf.

[Suzi]

Hi Gareth-
Yes most likely that would have been 'er safer!.

Although maybe he kept it safely tucked away at home (wherever that was) until 'needed' for a session (!)

OK- the knife had to be a heavy handler so probably best not to keep it tucked around your person ....In case of a sudden slap on the back or a sit-down... or- even worse- carry it about in a suspicious looking bag or American cloth wrapped parcel at the height of 'Kerfuffle 1888'.

Suz xxxx

[Sam Flynn]

Excellent points, Chava - you know, I think we often overlook the matter of the handle. As to where he kept it, it strikes me that the only logical place - from the point of view of accessibility as much as safety - would have been inside his jacket.

[Chava]

That knife has a blade around 6-8" long. Including the handle you've got a weapon that's around 12" long at least. That is a very hard weapon to conceal. The blade is far too long for a clasp-knife. How and where did the Ripper carry his knife? I doubt it would fit into a pocket. But if it was in the famous American cloth parcel or whatever, it wouldn't have been easy to get at when needed...