A rope severing device for cutting a rope after a continued compressive forceis disclosed.The rope severing device includes a housing having a base and a top and thetop is movablymounted to the base such that the top can move axially with respect to thebase. A blade ispositioned at least partially within the housing and fixedly mounted withrespect to the base. Insome embodiments, an elastic member is positioned inside the housing incontact with the baseand a damper is attached to the base to dampen relative movement of the topand the base. Uponapplication of a compressive force to the housing, the top moves toward thebase and the blade isat least partially exposed through an opening in the top to sever a ropeattached to the rope severingdevice.
