An open electrosurgical forceps for sealing tissue, including: a pair of first and second shaft members (12, 20) each having a jaw member disposed at a distal end thereof, said jaw members movable about a pivot from a first open position in spaced relation relative to one another to at least one subsequent closed position wherein the jaw members cooperate to grasp tissue therebetween, wherein each shaft includes a handle (15, 17) disposed at the proximal end thereof which each define a finger hole (15a, 17a), respectively, therethrough for receiving a finger of the user, wherein finger holes facilitate movement of the shafts relative to one another which, in turn, pivot the jaw members from the open position wherein the jaw members are disposed in spaced relation relative to one another to the closed position wherein the jaw members cooperate to grasp tissue therebetween; each of said jaw members including an electrically conductive sealing plate or sealing surface (67, 68) on an inner facing surface for communicating electrosurgical energy through tissue held therebetween; at least one of the jaw members including a cutting slot defined along a longitudinal length thereof which is dimensioned to reciprocate a cutting instrument therealong to sever tissue held between the jaw members; an actuator for selectively advancing the cutting instrument from a first proximal position wherein the cutting instrument is disposed proximal to tissue held between the jaw members to at least one subsequent distal position wherein the cutting instrument is disposed distal to tissue held between the jaw members; a safety mechanism or lockout (47, 99, 505, 700) configured to prevent reciprocation of the cutting instrument when the jaws are disposed in the first open position, wherein said safety mechanism or lockout is also configured to prevent opening of the jaw members when the actuator is being deployed to advance the cutting instrument to its distal position. a pair of first and second shaft members (12, 20) each having a jaw member disposed at a distal end thereof, said jaw members movable about a pivot from a first open position in spaced relation relative to one another to at least one subsequent closed position wherein the jaw members cooperate to grasp tissue therebetween, wherein each shaft includes a handle (15, 17) disposed at the proximal end thereof which each define a finger hole (15a, 17a), respectively, therethrough for receiving a finger of the user, wherein finger holes facilitate movement of the shafts relative to one another which, in turn, pivot the jaw members from the open position wherein the jaw members are disposed in spaced relation relative to one another to the closed position wherein the jaw members cooperate to grasp tissue therebetween; each of said jaw members including an electrically conductive sealing plate or sealing surface (67, 68) on an inner facing surface for communicating electrosurgical energy through tissue held therebetween; at least one of the jaw members including a cutting slot defined along a longitudinal length thereof which is dimensioned to reciprocate a cutting instrument therealong to sever tissue held between the jaw members; an actuator for selectively advancing the cutting instrument from a first proximal position wherein the cutting instrument is disposed proximal to tissue held between the jaw members to at least one subsequent distal position wherein the cutting instrument is disposed distal to tissue held between the jaw members; a safety mechanism or lockout (47, 99, 505, 700) configured to prevent reciprocation of the cutting instrument when the jaws are disposed in the first open position, wherein said safety mechanism or lockout is also configured to prevent opening of the jaw members when the actuator is being deployed to advance the cutting instrument to its distal position.