Science Stuff

[Scorpio]

Not to nitpick or anything, but nothing cuts through bone with little force applied. An axe is the easiest thing to use, and even then, a headsman took great care in trying to place the blow between vertebrae. And an axe uses a great deal of force, it merely translates the momentum of the fall into the splitting cut the axe head shape was made for. A kukri could easily cut through to the bone, but to actually take the head a person would then place the knife between vertebrae and pop them apart. Yeah I knew. Ew.

I think a dirk would be a terrible idea, but I have some deeply personal issues with them. Any knife either without a crossguard, or a blade base wider that the hilt is going to result in grevious injury. Anyone stabbing downward with a dirk, with slick hands from blood and sweat is going to sever their palm. The first time they hit resistance, bone, stays, clothing, whatever, his hand will slide down the hilt onto the blade. And I would bet a lot of money that he would have been gripping tightly enough that the resulting cut would sever tendons. That would be a career ending injury.

A bayonet is a possibility, but I would think it would be too long to make a good job of it. Modern bayonets are little more that hunting knives, but 19th century ones are thin short swords. The longer the knife, the less control. Like trying to write while holding the pencil near the eraser. Also, deep cuts tend to happen three ways. Stab and drag, chopping, and sawing. The neck cuts are almost certainly the result of a sawing or "drawing" motion. And these women were lying on the ground when their throats were cut. A long blade makes it nigh impossible to stab, chop or saw. the just isnt enough room to maneuver without continually hitting the knife on the ground, which will break even strong steel, and certainly impede long drawing strokes.

I gotta vote for a shorter blade. And a less military oriented one. A trade knife or a kitchen knife. Easier to get a hold of.

I think i may have been mistaken about the bayonet,as the standard bayonet of the LVP,was a 12 inch needle,with a trianglular shape and point but no edge. This was the case in 1879,when the Zulu war being fought.

[Errata]

I think i may have been mistaken about the bayonet,as the standard bayonet of the LVP,was a 12 inch needle,with a trianglular shape and point but no edge. This was the case in 1879,when the Zulu war being fought.

True enough. Actually the 19th century brings a return to the knife or sword shaped bayonet. A design shift to more a cutlass than a rapier. Its still too long though.

I would imagine that the pawning of military equipment was (and still is) illegal. It doesn't actually belong to the soldier. Looted weapons, personal weapons, sure. But bayonets still technically in use by the British Armies i think would be impossible to pawn without dire punishment. If you are looking for a military weapon for a reason, say if you think this guy was a soldier wanna be or something, i suggest looking at german, dutch, french and indian weapons. They seem the likliest candidates at loot.

[Scorpio]

Talking of Germans, a German light infantaryman or Jaeger,carried a weapon of the same name. The Jaeger is similar to a Bowie knife;it is long,heavy,single edged and pointed. A possible Ripper weapon.

[Errata]

Talking of Germans, a German light infantaryman or Jaeger,carried a weapon of the same name. The Jaeger is similar to a Bowie knife;it is long,heavy,single edged and pointed. A possible Ripper weapon.

It's possible. The only reason I might steer clear of the hunting knife shape is that they were specifically designed to cut through the tough skin of animals. Which would make it a good choice, except the Ripper seemed to have a hell of a time getting through layers of clothing, especially on Eddowes. Of course, that could be a user interface error rather than the fault of the knife... I tend towards it being the knife thats inappropriate to the job. I just think the organ removal was too clean to have been the work of a guy who doesn't know how to use a knife.

Although the thinner Bowie knife might fit the bill. Not the massive wide ones.