Conventional and recently developed hysterectomy clamps were examined with respect to sure, nonslip grip and minimum resulting tissue trauma. Slippage was appraised by means of the tenacity testing device, tissue damage on the basis of macroscopic, histologic, and scanning-electron-microscope findings. The new clamp (Zeppelin) comes closest to meeting the demands set for sure grip and gentleness to tissue as compared to the conventional clamps (Wertheim, Rogers, Masterson) and best satisfies requirements for the use in hysterectomies today.