Rope locking device

In a rope locking device having a housing, a pair of opposed dogs pivotally mounted on said housing between which the rope is to be clamped and a handle pivotally mounted on said housing, said handle having an engagement portion for moving one of said dogs into engagement with the rope to be clamped, the improvement comprising an elastomeric insert on the surface of the locking dog to be engaged by said handle portion and a rotatable roller on said handle engagement portion engageable in over center locking arrangement with said elastomeric insert such that in a locking position of said handle, said elastomeric insert is compressed by said roller and movement of said handle from said locking position toward an unlocking position first causes said roller to further compress said elastomeric insert before relieving said compression as said handle moves to the unlocking position.