A grappling hook that includes at least one central shaft, an outer collar, with the central shaft slidably mounted in the outer collar, at least one prong pivotably mounted at a distal end of the outer collar and movable between an open position in which a distal end of the at least one prong is spaced from the outer collar and a closed position in which the distal end of the at least one prong is positioned adjacent to the outer collar, a linkage mounted at a distal end of the central shaft, the linkage including at least one linkage element connected to the distal end of the at least one prong and a biasing element provided at the distal end of the central shaft and positioned between the linkage and the distal end of the outer collar such that the linkage is biased toward a position spaced away from the distal end of the outer collar and such that the linkage element holds the at least one prong in the open position.