A grappling hook is a composite hook attached to a rope, designed to be thrown or projected a distance, where its hooks will engage with the target. Grappling hooks were originally used in naval warfare to catch the rigging of an enemy ship so that it could be drawn in and boarded. Later, grappling hooks were also used in rescue work or to assist in scaling walls.

The most common design consists of a central shaft with an eye to attach the rope, and three equally spaced hooks at the end of the shaft, so arranged that at least one is likely to catch on some protuberance of the target. Unfortunately this design also tends to catch on things during storage and transport, so some modern designs feature folding hooks. Most grappling hooks are thrown by hand; some of those used in rescue work are propelled by compressed air or a rocket.

In certain games and movies, an overelaborated fictional version appears. This usually consists of a launcher (sometimes resembling a gun), a small electric motor, and a rope cartridge with hook. The motor enables the hero to pull himself up (by wheeling the rope back to the launcher, while the hook is caught onto a solid anchor) or to drag objects and people.

Since it is very hard to engineer such a device in a small and compact package, the grappling hook is used mainly by fictional superheroes in comics and films - where "petty" technical hardships can be overlooked.

See also

• Rope
• Harpoon
• Batman (the most famous user of grappling hook)
• Spider-Man (his web shooters are similar to the grappling hook in usage, though they are based on a different mechanism).