Abstract: This invention relates to a clamp used to securely hold a sample jar, bottle or container while it is manipulated by a handle to extract a sample from a host volume of liquid, such as water. The clamp provides first and second clamp members hinged together at one end, with one of the clamp members incorporating a length of friction material along the inner surface thereof. The clamp members may be locked together at the other ends thereof so as to clamp the container therebetween. One of the clamp members includes a hinged joint for a socket member, into which the end of an elongated handle can be threaded. The clamp is easy to use and inexpensive to manufacture, yet it provides improved security for the container and permits improved ease of manipulation when compared to prior art clamps.