A gripping device comprises a support body (2) within a sleeve (8), with the sleeve being mounted around the body for relative translational movement along a common axis thereof. A plurality of gripping elements (10, 12) are pivotally mounted in the body (2), the elements having lever arms (20, 22) projecting laterally from the boundary of the body. Translational movement of the sleeve (8) relative to the body (2) causes working engagement of the sleeve with the gripping element lever arms (20, 22), and movement of the lever arms to pivot the elements (10, 12) and close the elements around an item captured therebetween. Normally, the pivotal axes for the gripping elements (10, 12) are disposed within the support body (2), with the elements themselves projecting axially from an end thereof. The pivotal axes are normally substantialy parallel, and indeed the gripping elements may all be mounted for pivotal movement about the same common axis (18). The pivotal axis or axes will usually be perpendicular to the common axis of the support body and sleeve, but there may be applications in which a different angular relationship between these axes will be used.