Abstract: There is disclosed a lifting device particularly suited for lifting plastic drums or barrels while maintaining the same vertically upright and transporting the same to another location. The lifting device is unique in that it employs a locking bar which is capable of locking the device in both the open position preparatory for securing the barrel, and the grasping/lifting position. It maintains either of these locked positions regardless of whether an upward force is exerted upon the pair of pivotal tongs. Unlike other pivoted lifting devices or tongs, the present invention uses a minimal amount of friction force to lift a barrel, such that the fragile resilient sides of a plastic barrel are not damaged.