Abstract: A bight of a cable is wrapped around a sliding wedge thimble which, when one or both of the cable parts is pulled, jams the cable parts between convergent sides of the wedge thimble and opposed convergent sides of a casing. A key, when engaged through registering keyways of the wedge thimble and casing, limits the sliding movement of the wedge thimble so that the latter does not jam the cable parts but, rather, permits the cable to slip lengthwise around it. The key is tapered, and the keyways are so arranged that they serve to unjam the cable when the key is forced through the keyways.