A surgical stapling apparatus configured for use with an end effector capable of performing a surgical procedure, the surgical stapling apparatus comprising: an elongated body operably interfacing with the end effector to transfer actuation motions thereto; a manually actuatable handle for generating said actuation motions; an actuation shaft operably interfacing with said elongated body and said manually actuatable handle to transfer said actuation motions generated by said manually actuatable handle to said elongated body; and a driving pawl (42', 42") interfacing with said manually actuatable handle, said driving pawl (42', 42") having a pawl body (102, 106) with a driving tooth thereon configured to interact with said actuation shaft such that as said manually actuatable handle is actuated, said driving tooth interacts with said actuation shaft to cause said actuation shaft to apply said actuation motions to said elongated body; wherein when the end effector interfacing with said elongated body experiences a firing load that exceeds a predetermined magnitude of firing load, said driving tooth disengages from said actuation shaft to prevent further transfer of said actuation motions to said elongated body even though said manually actuatable handle continues to be actuated; characterized in that: when a firing load that exceeds said predetermined magnitude of firing load is experienced said driving tooth shears off said pawl body (102, 106) so as to disengage from said actuation shaft; or said driving tooth is supported relative to said pawl body (102, 106) by an attachment and in a position for driving engagement with said actuation shaft, and when a firing load that exceeds said predetermined magnitude of firing load is experienced, said attachment shears or otherwise fails, thereby permitting said driving tooth to move relative to said pawl body (102, 106) to a non-engaged position. an elongated body operably interfacing with the end effector to transfer actuation motions thereto; a manually actuatable handle for generating said actuation motions; an actuation shaft operably interfacing with said elongated body and said manually actuatable handle to transfer said actuation motions generated by said manually actuatable handle to said elongated body; and a driving pawl (42', 42") interfacing with said manually actuatable handle, said driving pawl (42', 42") having a pawl body (102, 106) with a driving tooth thereon configured to interact with said actuation shaft such that as said manually actuatable handle is actuated, said driving tooth interacts with said actuation shaft to cause said actuation shaft to apply said actuation motions to said elongated body; wherein when the end effector interfacing with said elongated body experiences a firing load that exceeds a predetermined magnitude of firing load, said driving tooth disengages from said actuation shaft to prevent further transfer of said actuation motions to said elongated body even though said manually actuatable handle continues to be actuated; characterized in that: when a firing load that exceeds said predetermined magnitude of firing load is experienced said driving tooth shears off said pawl body (102, 106) so as to disengage from said actuation shaft; or said driving tooth is supported relative to said pawl body (102, 106) by an attachment and in a position for driving engagement with said actuation shaft, and when a firing load that exceeds said predetermined magnitude of firing load is experienced, said attachment shears or otherwise fails, thereby permitting said driving tooth to move relative to said pawl body (102, 106) to a non-engaged position. when a firing load that exceeds said predetermined magnitude of firing load is experienced said driving tooth shears off said pawl body (102, 106) so as to disengage from said actuation shaft; or said driving tooth is supported relative to said pawl body (102, 106) by an attachment and in a position for driving engagement with said actuation shaft, and when a firing load that exceeds said predetermined magnitude of firing load is experienced, said attachment shears or otherwise fails, thereby permitting said driving tooth to move relative to said pawl body (102, 106) to a non-engaged position.