A forceps comprising: a first jaw member; a second jaw member, the first jaw member and the second jaw member being in opposing relation relative to one another, at least one of the first jaw member and the second jaw member being relatively movable from a first open position when the first jaw member and the second jaw member are disposed in spaced relation relative to one another to a second clamping position when the first jaw member and the second jaw member cooperate to grasp tissue therebetween; a drive rod assembly; and a moveable handle attached to a fixed handle, moving the moveable handle relative to the fixed handle moves the drive rod assembly for imparting movement of at least one of the first jaw member and the second jaw member from the first position and the second position, the moveable handle having an actuator with a lost motion connection (58, 42) between the first and second jaw members (68, 86) and the actuator, wherein the lost motion connection (58, 42) includes a yoke on the end of the moveable handle and a drive shuttle, the yoke including flanges (100, 102) and the drive shuttle being configured so that if a force imparted on the drive rod assembly exceeds a predetermined amount of force, the flanges (100, 102) of the yoke deflect outwardly to allow relative axial motion between the yoke and the shuttle, which allows relative movement between the moveable handle and the fixed handle without the first jaw member moving relative to the second jaw member, wherein at least one of the yoke and the shuttle has tapered surfaces (101, 103) on the front and the back of the at least one of the yoke and the shuttle that enables the at least one of the yoke and the shuttle to disengage from the other of the yoke and the shuttle. a first jaw member; a second jaw member, the first jaw member and the second jaw member being in opposing relation relative to one another, at least one of the first jaw member and the second jaw member being relatively movable from a first open position when the first jaw member and the second jaw member are disposed in spaced relation relative to one another to a second clamping position when the first jaw member and the second jaw member cooperate to grasp tissue therebetween; a drive rod assembly; and a moveable handle attached to a fixed handle, moving the moveable handle relative to the fixed handle moves the drive rod assembly for imparting movement of at least one of the first jaw member and the second jaw member from the first position and the second position, the moveable handle having an actuator with a lost motion connection (58, 42) between the first and second jaw members (68, 86) and the actuator, wherein the lost motion connection (58, 42) includes a yoke on the end of the moveable handle and a drive shuttle, the yoke including flanges (100, 102) and the drive shuttle being configured so that if a force imparted on the drive rod assembly exceeds a predetermined amount of force, the flanges (100, 102) of the yoke deflect outwardly to allow relative axial motion between the yoke and the shuttle, which allows relative movement between the moveable handle and the fixed handle without the first jaw member moving relative to the second jaw member, wherein at least one of the yoke and the shuttle has tapered surfaces (101, 103) on the front and the back of the at least one of the yoke and the shuttle that enables the at least one of the yoke and the shuttle to disengage from the other of the yoke and the shuttle.