Abstract: A rigging tool for use with a turnbarrel for joining ends of cables together in which the rigging tool has a first gripping member with a receptacle suitable for receiving a terminal end of a cable therein, a second gripping member having a receptacle suitable for receiving a terminal end of another cable therein, and a translating rod assembly connected to the first and second gripping members for allowing the gripping members to translate with respect to each other when the turnbarrel is rotated. The translating rod has a tubular body with a first rod fixedly adjustably received in one end of the tubular body and a second rod resiliently mounted in the second end of the tubular body.