Abstract: An overshot for the handling and retrieval of "drop" type well survey instruments that are employed in directional drilling. The overshot has an elongated, generally cylindrical body with a pair of elongated, generally longitudinally arranged, diametrically opposed locking arms mounted therein for both longitudinal sliding and radial tilting movement. The locking arms are longitudinally biased by means of a spring-loaded plunger axially centered in the body, such biasing causing the arms to be cammed radially inwardly toward their locking positions.