A surgical instrument, comprising: an elongate shaft assembly defining a shaft axis; and a surgical end effector operably coupled to said elongate shaft assembly for selective articulation relative thereto about an articulation axis that is transverse to said shaft axis, said surgical end effector comprising: a first end effector jaw coupled to an articulation joint coupled to said elongate shaft assembly; a second end effector jaw coupled to said first end effector jaw for selective pivotal travel relative thereto about a jaw pivot axis that is transverse to said shaft axis; and an axially movable firing member comprising at least one jaw engagement feature thereon configured to apply a closure motion to said second end effector jaw as said axially movable firing member is moved distally from a starting position to an end position within said first end effector jaw, said at least one jaw engagement feature being configured such that a portion thereof extends proximally past said jaw pivot axis and is positioned between said jaw pivot axis and said articulation axis and characterized in that said portion is at least thirty five percent of the overall length of said jaw engagement feature in a direction parallel to said shaft axis when said axially movable firing member is in said starting position and said second end effector jaw is in a fully opened position. an elongate shaft assembly defining a shaft axis; and a surgical end effector operably coupled to said elongate shaft assembly for selective articulation relative thereto about an articulation axis that is transverse to said shaft axis, said surgical end effector comprising: a first end effector jaw coupled to an articulation joint coupled to said elongate shaft assembly; a second end effector jaw coupled to said first end effector jaw for selective pivotal travel relative thereto about a jaw pivot axis that is transverse to said shaft axis; and an axially movable firing member comprising at least one jaw engagement feature thereon configured to apply a closure motion to said second end effector jaw as said axially movable firing member is moved distally from a starting position to an end position within said first end effector jaw, said at least one jaw engagement feature being configured such that a portion thereof extends proximally past said jaw pivot axis and is positioned between said jaw pivot axis and said articulation axis and characterized in that said portion is at least thirty five percent of the overall length of said jaw engagement feature in a direction parallel to said shaft axis when said axially movable firing member is in said starting position and said second end effector jaw is in a fully opened position. a first end effector jaw coupled to an articulation joint coupled to said elongate shaft assembly; a second end effector jaw coupled to said first end effector jaw for selective pivotal travel relative thereto about a jaw pivot axis that is transverse to said shaft axis; and an axially movable firing member comprising at least one jaw engagement feature thereon configured to apply a closure motion to said second end effector jaw as said axially movable firing member is moved distally from a starting position to an end position within said first end effector jaw, said at least one jaw engagement feature being configured such that a portion thereof extends proximally past said jaw pivot axis and is positioned between said jaw pivot axis and said articulation axis and characterized in that said portion is at least thirty five percent of the overall length of said jaw engagement feature in a direction parallel to said shaft axis when said axially movable firing member is in said starting position and said second end effector jaw is in a fully opened position.