A combinational surgical tool for cutting and grasping tissue, said tool comprising: four independent jaw elements (001, 002, 003, 004) in such operational association with each other to allow enablement of user-selective functionalities among cutting and grasping; hinges for mounting said jaw elements at their respective bases; first interlocking means for allowing cutting jaw element pairs (001, 002; 003, 004) of said jaw elements to slide against one another to result in a cutting configuration of said surgical tool, said first interlocking means comprising a first male locking element and a corresponding first female locking element on opposing jaw elements of each of said cutting jaw element pairs to lock such opposing jaw elements to each other; second interlocking means for allowing grasping jaw element pairs (001, 004; 002, 003) of said jaw elements to move towards and away from one another to result in a grasping configuration of said surgical tool, said second interlocking means comprising a second male locking element and a corresponding second female locking element on opposing jaw elements of each of said grasping jaw element pairs to lock such opposing jaw elements to each other; a shifter shaft wherein motion of said shifter shaft in a first direction locks the first male and first female elements to each other, and wherein motion of said shifter shaft in a second direction opposite said first direction locks the second male and second female elements to each other; a user interface for operating said combinational surgical tool, said interface characterized in bearing first means and second means, said first means for enabling a user to actuate said jaw elements, and said second means for allowing the user to switch between said cutting configuration and said grasping configuration by moving said shifter shaft in said first or second direction; and a shaft assembly for connecting said user interface to said jaw elements and allowing said user to manipulate said cutting and grasping configurations of said combinational surgical tool during surgery. four independent jaw elements (001, 002, 003, 004) in such operational association with each other to allow enablement of user-selective functionalities among cutting and grasping; hinges for mounting said jaw elements at their respective bases; first interlocking means for allowing cutting jaw element pairs (001, 002; 003, 004) of said jaw elements to slide against one another to result in a cutting configuration of said surgical tool, said first interlocking means comprising a first male locking element and a corresponding first female locking element on opposing jaw elements of each of said cutting jaw element pairs to lock such opposing jaw elements to each other; second interlocking means for allowing grasping jaw element pairs (001, 004; 002, 003) of said jaw elements to move towards and away from one another to result in a grasping configuration of said surgical tool, said second interlocking means comprising a second male locking element and a corresponding second female locking element on opposing jaw elements of each of said grasping jaw element pairs to lock such opposing jaw elements to each other; a shifter shaft wherein motion of said shifter shaft in a first direction locks the first male and first female elements to each other, and wherein motion of said shifter shaft in a second direction opposite said first direction locks the second male and second female elements to each other; a user interface for operating said combinational surgical tool, said interface characterized in bearing first means and second means, said first means for enabling a user to actuate said jaw elements, and said second means for allowing the user to switch between said cutting configuration and said grasping configuration by moving said shifter shaft in said first or second direction; and a shaft assembly for connecting said user interface to said jaw elements and allowing said user to manipulate said cutting and grasping configurations of said combinational surgical tool during surgery.