A surgical snare is provided having an operating wire and an outer sheath having a lumen extending therethrough, wherein the operating wire is disposed within the lumen and is longitudinally movable within the lumen. The surgical snare also has a first locking member attached to the operating wire and a second locking member attached to the outer sheath. The first locking member is frictionally engageable with the second locking member by sliding the outer sheath longitudinally along the operating wire until the first locking member contacts the second locking member. The operating wire is prevented from moving longitudinally with respect to the outer sheath when the first locking member is frictionally engaged with the second locking member.
