A surgical gripping instrument comprises a support assembly, a slide mounted on the support assembly for relative movement with respect thereto, a wire movable with the slide relative to the support assembly, gripping means at the distal end of the wire, and a sheath enveloping the wire. Movement of the wire a predetermined distance relative to the sheath causes the gripping means to be actuated. A belt or gear arrangement is provided to enable the slide to be moved a distance relative to the support assembly less than the predetermined distance causing sufficient displacement of said sheath relative to the gripping means to actuate the latter.