A stapler that ejects and drives fasteners into a working surface, comprising: a body containing a striker at a front end thereof, wherein the striker slides along a path therein; a power spring disposed in the body, biasing the striker toward a bottom of the body; a handle hinged to the body, the handle linked to the power spring wherein rotating the handle energizes the power spring; a guide track disposed at the bottom of the body, biasing a fastener into the path of the striker to be ejected by the striker; a base hinged to the body, wherein the base includes a cover plate disposed thereon, and the cover plate includes an anvil located underneath the striker when the base is hinged toward the body to a base closed position; characterised in that it further comprises: a safety mechanism including a locking means (70, 300, 180a, 180b, 280) disposed at the front end of the body and having a first portion (306, 184, 284) that is biased out of the body, wherein, in the base closed position, the first portion (306, 184, 284) presses the base near to the anvil to disengage the locking means, and includes a second portion (71,182,282) that, when not in the base closed position, is biased to engage at least one of the power spring, striker and handle to prevent at least one of the power spring, striker, and handle respectively from moving to complete a cycle to eject fasteners from the guide track. a body containing a striker at a front end thereof, wherein the striker slides along a path therein; a power spring disposed in the body, biasing the striker toward a bottom of the body; a handle hinged to the body, the handle linked to the power spring wherein rotating the handle energizes the power spring; a guide track disposed at the bottom of the body, biasing a fastener into the path of the striker to be ejected by the striker; a base hinged to the body, wherein the base includes a cover plate disposed thereon, and the cover plate includes an anvil located underneath the striker when the base is hinged toward the body to a base closed position; characterised in that it further comprises: a safety mechanism including a locking means (70, 300, 180a, 180b, 280) disposed at the front end of the body and having a first portion (306, 184, 284) that is biased out of the body, wherein, in the base closed position, the first portion (306, 184, 284) presses the base near to the anvil to disengage the locking means, and includes a second portion (71,182,282) that, when not in the base closed position, is biased to engage at least one of the power spring, striker and handle to prevent at least one of the power spring, striker, and handle respectively from moving to complete a cycle to eject fasteners from the guide track. a safety mechanism including a locking means (70, 300, 180a, 180b, 280) disposed at the front end of the body and having a first portion (306, 184, 284) that is biased out of the body, wherein, in the base closed position, the first portion (306, 184, 284) presses the base near to the anvil to disengage the locking means, and includes a second portion (71,182,282) that, when not in the base closed position, is biased to engage at least one of the power spring, striker and handle to prevent at least one of the power spring, striker, and handle respectively from moving to complete a cycle to eject fasteners from the guide track.