Abstract: A splicing apparatus and method for splicing rope, which apparatus includes a wheeled frame fitted with a splicing plate having upward-standing, spaced rope clamps for receiving and clamping rope segments to be spliced. In a preferred embodiment, a vise is also mounted on the splicing plate for removably receiving a dowel clamp which clamps one end of a dowel on the splicing plate, with the other end of the dowel supported by a cylindrical dowel keeper. A dowel is stabilized in the dowel clamp and dowel keeper and is designed to receive a length of rubber sleeve. The dowel keeper further receives a plastic cylinder or transfer tube inserted on one end of the dowel through the dowel keeper, adjacent to the rubber sleeve to facilitate rolling the rubber sleeve on the transfer tube as a rubber "donut" sleeve.