An electrosurgical instrument comprising: a lower handle having a proximal end and a distal end and a lower handle housing; an upper jaw coupled to the distal end of the lower handle, the upper jaw having at least one electrode; an upper handle having a proximal end and a distal end; and a lower jaw coupled to the distal end of the upper handle, the lower jaw pivotably connected to the upper jaw; the upper handle comprising: a blade trigger connected to the upper handle; a blade slider; a blade lever arm connected to the blade trigger and the blade slider, in which movement of the blade trigger moves the blade lever arm which moves the blade slider, the blade slider being translatable longitudinally through a channel in the upper and lower jaws (10, 11); a blade lock hook engageable with the blade trigger to prevent distal movement of the blade trigger, the blade lever arm, and the blade slider; and a switch arranged to contact the lower handle housing and activate through contact with the lower handle housing to connect to a supply of RF energy; the lower handle comprising a blade unlock projection extending from an outer surface of the lower handle housing towards the upper handle, the blade unlock projection engageable with the blade lock hook disposed within a cavity of a housing of the upper handle to disengage the blade lock hook from the blade trigger; the handles (57, 58) are arranged to be brought together from an open position, where the jaws (10, 11) are open, to a closed position where the jaws (10, 11) are closed; and characterized in that the handles (57, 58) are arranged to be brought closer together from the closed position to a fuse position, with the handles (57, 58) being configured to be moved from the closed position to the fuse position, a portion of the lower handle is decoupled from the upper jaw with the upper and lower jaws (10, 11) being proximate each other in a closed proximate position, and in the fuse position, the decoupled portion of the lower handle including the blade unlock projection engages the blade lock hook to disengaged the blade lock hook from the blade trigger permitting distal movement of the blade trigger, the blade lever arm and the blade slider, and an outer surface of the decoupled portion of the lower handle engages the switch of the upper handle. a lower handle having a proximal end and a distal end and a lower handle housing; an upper jaw coupled to the distal end of the lower handle, the upper jaw having at least one electrode; an upper handle having a proximal end and a distal end; and a lower jaw coupled to the distal end of the upper handle, the lower jaw pivotably connected to the upper jaw; the upper handle comprising: a blade trigger connected to the upper handle; a blade slider; a blade lever arm connected to the blade trigger and the blade slider, in which movement of the blade trigger moves the blade lever arm which moves the blade slider, the blade slider being translatable longitudinally through a channel in the upper and lower jaws (10, 11); a blade lock hook engageable with the blade trigger to prevent distal movement of the blade trigger, the blade lever arm, and the blade slider; and a switch arranged to contact the lower handle housing and activate through contact with the lower handle housing to connect to a supply of RF energy; a blade trigger connected to the upper handle; a blade slider; a blade lever arm connected to the blade trigger and the blade slider, in which movement of the blade trigger moves the blade lever arm which moves the blade slider, the blade slider being translatable longitudinally through a channel in the upper and lower jaws (10, 11); a blade lock hook engageable with the blade trigger to prevent distal movement of the blade trigger, the blade lever arm, and the blade slider; and a switch arranged to contact the lower handle housing and activate through contact with the lower handle housing to connect to a supply of RF energy; the lower handle comprising a blade unlock projection extending from an outer surface of the lower handle housing towards the upper handle, the blade unlock projection engageable with the blade lock hook disposed within a cavity of a housing of the upper handle to disengage the blade lock hook from the blade trigger; the handles (57, 58) are arranged to be brought together from an open position, where the jaws (10, 11) are open, to a closed position where the jaws (10, 11) are closed; and characterized in that the handles (57, 58) are arranged to be brought closer together from the closed position to a fuse position, with the handles (57, 58) being configured to be moved from the closed position to the fuse position, a portion of the lower handle is decoupled from the upper jaw with the upper and lower jaws (10, 11) being proximate each other in a closed proximate position, and in the fuse position, the decoupled portion of the lower handle including the blade unlock projection engages the blade lock hook to disengaged the blade lock hook from the blade trigger permitting distal movement of the blade trigger, the blade lever arm and the blade slider, and an outer surface of the decoupled portion of the lower handle engages the switch of the upper handle.