Cable stripping tool for removing insulation from ribbed cable

A handheld cable stripping tool for stripping cable having a noncircular cross section with a rotary stripping motion, the tool comprising:

• a body formed with an opening therein oriented along a longitudinal axis of the body, the opening having a diameter at least sufficient to accommodate a core of cable to be stripped, the cable having a prescribed construction including the core, the core being formed along a longitudinal axis of the cable, and an outer layer located around the core, the outer layer having a noncircular cross section;
• an adapter rotatably secured to the body for rotation relative to the longitudinal axis of the body such that the body may be rotated relative to the adapter while the adapter remains fixed relative to the cable to be stripped, the adapter having a longitudinal noncircular opening shaped to receive the noncircular cable and to hold the longitudinal axis of the cable aligned relative to the longitudinal axis of the body, the noncircular opening in the adapter cooperating with the noncircular cross section of the cable to prevent the cable from rotating relative to the adapter;
• and
• a cutting blade secured to the body and projecting inwards relative to the aligned longitudinal axes of the cable and the body, the cutting blade cutting the outer layer from the cable when the body is rotated relative to the cable.