Abstract: An apparatus for descending a rope or cable has a pair of laterally spaced housing parts pivoted together at their upper regions and connected at their lower regions to the upper ends of a scissor linkage provided at its lower ends with a pair of handles. Each of the housing parts carries a plurality of rollers engageable with the rope or cable and engaged by respective brakes for slowing descent of the device down such a rope or cable. One of the handles carries an operating lever connected to at least one of the brakes for reducing the braking force and increasing descent speed when this lever is operated.