Abstract: A rope-actuated load lifting and carrying assembly is characterized by the provision of at least one first rope guide disposed so that its axis of rotation is disposed at all times below a reference plane defined perpendicularly to the joinder plane between the gripping elements and containing the axis of rotation of the center pin. The assembly is also characterized by a head arrangement wherein at least three first rope guides are disposed in a semicircular arrangement below the reference plane, the guides being angularly separated by a predetermined amount. A head assembly includes at least three second rope guides disposed in a semicircle at or above the plane containing the connection of the head with the corner arms, the second rope guides being angularly separated by a predetermined amount.