Disclosed is biopsy device that includes a stylet with a sample cavity at the end, a cutting cannula movable over the stylet with a cutting end, a firing mechanism operable to suddenly change the position of the cutting cannula to move the cutting cannula over the sample cavity and a grip from which the stylet and cutting cannula extend, where the grip is held in the palm of one hand with the web of the hand between the index finger and the thumb with the stylet and the cutting cannula oriented along the longitudinal axis of the grip and a trigger on the end of the grip to actuate the firing mechanism, where the trigger is operated by the thumb of the hand gripping the grip to actuate the firing mechanism while the same hand holds the grip in a palm grip.
