The Knife

[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...

[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.

[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

[Jon Guy]

Hello

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

[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]

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!!

[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.

[Barnaby]

Are there any pics as to what this type of knife with handle may have looked like?

[smezenen]

Are there any pics as to what this type of knife with handle may have looked like?

depends on what knife you believed he used. There are many possibilities. Ive even heard a theory about Zulu spear points. anyway here is a poster that shows a few possibilities.

[Mascara & Paranoia]

Inside his jacket seems like the best bet.

[Bob Hinton]

Well this worked for me....

Nope. One of the best places for carrying a long bladed knife is in a sheath fastened to your forearm, handle facing your wrist. In that position you can get at it lying, sitting, standing or just about any other position you can get into. You can also bring it into play very quickly.

If you are holding a rifle for instance, put the rifle in your left hand, grasp the knife handle and bring out. From behind, place your left forearm around the person’s windpipe stifling sound. Pull the knife out in one fluid movement severing the carotid artery as it comes out, push the body forward to avoid arterial spray. Getting covered in blood may look like fun in the horror flicks, however after a couple of hours not only does it start to smell it also has the consistency of jam – very sticky and gooey!

If you wish to carry it covertly you simply fasten it to your forearm under your jacket. To retrieve the blade you simply push the sleeve back as if you are looking at the time and whip the blade out. I’ve got a video of me demonstrating this somewhere.

When you remove the knife in this way it has a momentum all of it’s own, so you retrieve and strike all in one movement.

After you have finished the knife is replaced in it's sheaf and is completely hidden to view, without fumbling around trying to place it in your waistband or leg sheath.

[smezenen]

Bob,
I was just about to post the same thoughts. As an ex-soldier with quite a lot of practicle experience with knifes there are 2 places I might carry a knife if I needed to hide it but still get to it quickly. The forearm covered by my coat sleeve would be my first choice. The other place would be the small of the back tucked into my waistband. I believe Jack used an amputation knife. The Liston-type amputation knife had a slim handle and an 8 inch double edge meaning that you wouldnt have to worry about which way the sharpened edge was facing when you pull it out.

[Jon Guy]

Hello Bob and Smezenen

I won`t argue with a soldiers experience, however that would be in a combat situation, and personally, I would be worried that the game would be undone if a policeman grabbed my arm, or one of the ladies links arms with you as you walk along (Kelly and Eddowes seemed quite tactile if the witnesses are to be believed). In the back waistband would work if you had an long overcoat on.

[smezenen]

Hello Bob and Smezenen

I won`t argue with a soldiers experience, however that would be in a combat situation, and personally, I would be worried that the game would be undone if a policeman grabbed my arm, or one of the ladies links arms with you as you walk along (Kelly and Eddowes seemed quite tactile if the witnesses are to be believed). In the back waistband would work if you had an long overcoat on.

Jon,
In a combat situataion I would have no need to hide my knife and it would be in its place, prominantly displayed on the front strap of my equiptment. For obvious reasons Jack would have to worry about police discovery wherever he carried his knife. As i sit here and think about it more the forarm becomes more logical and the place I would carry it if I had to hide it and be able to get to if fast. I think those are the 2 qualifying factors in his discussion, hidden and fast. You need not worry about someone feeling it when they link arms if you link the other arm.

[Eastender]

A razor sharp chefs knife can be carried in a canvas wrap and hidden anywhere on the body. It has the added bonus of being perfectly explainable if discovered by the police. Having said that , I think Smezenen has a very good point.