A device for gripping a wire rope or the like wherein a pair of opposed jaws are urged longitudinally of the rope and camming means is provided for urging the jaws toward each other into gripping relation with the rope in response to such longitudinal movement. The particular combination of gripping jaws and camming surfaces achieves an optimum gripping effect. In the illustrative form of the invention the device on which the gripping means is used moves along the length of a fixed rope. Means is provided for actuating the gripping jaws when the relative speed between rope and device exceeds a predetermined amount regardless of whether the rope or the device is stationary.