A surgical instrument (2, 202) comprising: a handle assembly (4, 204) comprising: a closure trigger (8, 208); a closure actuator ( 26, 226) coupled to the closure trigger at a first pivot (31, 231) via a toggle arm, wherein the closure actuator (26, 226) moves proximally on a longitudinal axis in response to actuation of the closure trigger; and a closure spring (28, 228) configured to apply a force to the closure actuator at the first pivot, wherein the closure spring is compressed in response to movement of the closure trigger, and wherein a force vector component of the force vector applied by the closure spring is tangential to the longitudinal axis; a shaft assembly coupled to the handle assembly; and an end effector (10, 410, 510, 610) coupled to a distal end of the shaft assembly, the end effector comprising: a jaw assembly having a proximal end and a distal end, the jaw assembly comprising: a first jaw member (22a, 422a, 522a, 622a); and a second jaw member (22b, 422b, 522b, 622b), wherein the first jaw member is pivotally moveable with respect to the second jaw member, and wherein the first jaw member is operatively coupled to the closure actuator; wherein the jaw closure actuator is coupled to the closure trigger by a toggle pin (31, 231) at the first pivot, and wherein the closure spring applies the force to the toggle pin when the closure trigger is actuated, wherein the toggle pin is slideably moveable within a toggle pin channel, and wherein actuation of the closure trigger to a first position causes proximal movement of the closure actuator and further characterized in that actuation of the closure trigger to a second position causes movement of the toggle pin within the toggle pin channel, wherein movement of the toggle pin changes an angle of the force vector applied by the closure spring to the closure actuator (26, 226) via the toggle arm, and wherein the first position corresponds to the first and second jaws being fully closed. a handle assembly (4, 204) comprising: a closure trigger (8, 208); a closure actuator ( 26, 226) coupled to the closure trigger at a first pivot (31, 231) via a toggle arm, wherein the closure actuator (26, 226) moves proximally on a longitudinal axis in response to actuation of the closure trigger; and a closure spring (28, 228) configured to apply a force to the closure actuator at the first pivot, wherein the closure spring is compressed in response to movement of the closure trigger, and wherein a force vector component of the force vector applied by the closure spring is tangential to the longitudinal axis; a closure trigger (8, 208); a closure actuator ( 26, 226) coupled to the closure trigger at a first pivot (31, 231) via a toggle arm, wherein the closure actuator (26, 226) moves proximally on a longitudinal axis in response to actuation of the closure trigger; and a closure spring (28, 228) configured to apply a force to the closure actuator at the first pivot, wherein the closure spring is compressed in response to movement of the closure trigger, and wherein a force vector component of the force vector applied by the closure spring is tangential to the longitudinal axis; a shaft assembly coupled to the handle assembly; and an end effector (10, 410, 510, 610) coupled to a distal end of the shaft assembly, the end effector comprising: a jaw assembly having a proximal end and a distal end, the jaw assembly comprising: a first jaw member (22a, 422a, 522a, 622a); and a second jaw member (22b, 422b, 522b, 622b), wherein the first jaw member is pivotally moveable with respect to the second jaw member, and wherein the first jaw member is operatively coupled to the closure actuator; a first jaw member (22a, 422a, 522a, 622a); and a second jaw member (22b, 422b, 522b, 622b), wherein the first jaw member is pivotally moveable with respect to the second jaw member, and wherein the first jaw member is operatively coupled to the closure actuator; wherein the jaw closure actuator is coupled to the closure trigger by a toggle pin (31, 231) at the first pivot, and wherein the closure spring applies the force to the toggle pin when the closure trigger is actuated, wherein the toggle pin is slideably moveable within a toggle pin channel, and wherein actuation of the closure trigger to a first position causes proximal movement of the closure actuator and further characterized in that actuation of the closure trigger to a second position causes movement of the toggle pin within the toggle pin channel, wherein movement of the toggle pin changes an angle of the force vector applied by the closure spring to the closure actuator (26, 226) via the toggle arm, and wherein the first position corresponds to the first and second jaws being fully closed.