An apparatus for applying surgical clips, the apparatus including a handle portion, a body portion extending from the handle portion, a jaw blade extending from the body portion at an end opposite the handle portion, the jaw blade comprising: a first leg and a second leg; a first jaw (622a, 722a) integrally connected to the first leg, the first jaw including an inner surface (623a, 723a) oriented toward the second leg, a proximal portion (625a, 725a), a distal end (627a, 727a) and a clip formation region 628a, 728a) defined between the proximal portion and the distal end, the inner surface of the first jaw defining a channel oriented substantially along a longitudinal axis of the first jaw; and a second jaw (622b, 722b) integrally connected to the second leg, the second jaw including an inner surface (623b, 723b) oriented toward the first leg, a proximal portion (625b, 725b), a distal end (627b, 727b) and a clip formation region (628b, 728b) defined between the proximal portion and the distal end, the inner surface of the second jaw defining a channel oriented substantially along a longitudinal axis of the second jaw; wherein the first leg and the second leg each define a longitudinal axis being substantially parallel to one another and a plane therebetween, the first leg and the second leg of the jaw blade being movable in the plane between an open, spaced-apart position for receiving a surgical clip in the channels of the first jaw and the second jaw, and a closed, approximated position for fully forming the surgical clip received within the channels of the first jaw and the second jaw; and wherein, when the first leg and the second leg of the jaw blade are in the closed, approximated position, the inner surface of the first jaw and the inner surface of the second jaw are spaced-apart from one another defining an atraumatic area therebetween; characterized in that: at least one of the jaws (622a, 722a) includes a stop (626a, 626b, 726a, 726b) disposed proximally of the clip formation region (628a, 628b, 728a, 728b) of the jaw and extending from the inner surface of the at least one jaw, the stop being configured to contact the other jaw when the jaws are in the closed, approximated position whereby in the closed, approximated position, the clip formation regions of the jaws are spaced-apart from one another along lengths of the clip formation regions, and, wherein, in the closed, approximated position, the jaws contact one another in at least one position along lengths of the jaws outside of the clip formation regions. a first leg and a second leg; a first jaw (622a, 722a) integrally connected to the first leg, the first jaw including an inner surface (623a, 723a) oriented toward the second leg, a proximal portion (625a, 725a), a distal end (627a, 727a) and a clip formation region 628a, 728a) defined between the proximal portion and the distal end, the inner surface of the first jaw defining a channel oriented substantially along a longitudinal axis of the first jaw; and a second jaw (622b, 722b) integrally connected to the second leg, the second jaw including an inner surface (623b, 723b) oriented toward the first leg, a proximal portion (625b, 725b), a distal end (627b, 727b) and a clip formation region (628b, 728b) defined between the proximal portion and the distal end, the inner surface of the second jaw defining a channel oriented substantially along a longitudinal axis of the second jaw; wherein the first leg and the second leg each define a longitudinal axis being substantially parallel to one another and a plane therebetween, the first leg and the second leg of the jaw blade being movable in the plane between an open, spaced-apart position for receiving a surgical clip in the channels of the first jaw and the second jaw, and a closed, approximated position for fully forming the surgical clip received within the channels of the first jaw and the second jaw; and wherein, when the first leg and the second leg of the jaw blade are in the closed, approximated position, the inner surface of the first jaw and the inner surface of the second jaw are spaced-apart from one another defining an atraumatic area therebetween; characterized in that: at least one of the jaws (622a, 722a) includes a stop (626a, 626b, 726a, 726b) disposed proximally of the clip formation region (628a, 628b, 728a, 728b) of the jaw and extending from the inner surface of the at least one jaw, the stop being configured to contact the other jaw when the jaws are in the closed, approximated position whereby in the closed, approximated position, the clip formation regions of the jaws are spaced-apart from one another along lengths of the clip formation regions, and, wherein, in the closed, approximated position, the jaws contact one another in at least one position along lengths of the jaws outside of the clip formation regions.