Stripping cat5 cable which doesn't have a ripcord

Solution 1:

In a pinch you can use scissors. Just slide the cable into the groove of the scissors and slow twist the cable completely around to get a nice nick in the insulation. Then pull on the insulation and it should break free.

See here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cSzfbN83wAs

But my long term recommendation is to grab this from Fluke:

Solution 2:

Normally a crimping tool will have a section specially for stripping the outer sheath of a cat 5 cable. It looks like a notch that would accomodate the cable cut into one side with a blade on the other side.

Solution 3:

Cable jacket stripping tools exist. I've always used something like this:

It's got a screw that allows you to set the minimum diameter, so you don't cut past the sheathing.