A surgical stapling apparatus (100, 200), comprising a reload, the reload comprising: a first jaw member (108, 408); a second jaw member; a cartridge configured to be selectively coupled to the first jaw member, the cartridge defining a knife channel and including a housing, a plurality of fasteners, a tissue contacting surface, and one or more recessed platform areas (427a, 427b) adjacent to a proximal end of the tissue contacting surface, wherein an aperture is defined through one platform area; a drive member comprising a drive beam having a working end comprising a top flange, the drive member being translatable from a retracted position to an advanced position; an actuator comprising a head portion and a post extending from the head portion, the head portion comprising a tip, a bottom surface, and a protuberance provided on the bottom surface, wherein the post is received within the aperture, and the aperture is configured to allow rotation of the post and head portion; a spring operably coupled to the post and configured to bias the actuator in a direction towards the bottom interior wall of the cartridge assembly; and an interlock comprising an extension rotatably coupled to the cartridge housing and biased into the translation path of the working end by a biasing member, wherein the working end, the actuator, and the interlock each define a pre-fired configuration and a post-fired configuration; wherein in their pre-fired configuration, the working end is in the retracted position, the tip of the actuator extends into the translation path of the working end, the post is engaged with the interlock against the bias of the biasing member, and the interlock is positioned outside of the translation path of the working end; wherein in their post-fired configuration, the working end is in the advanced position, the tip of the actuator is rotated out of the translation path of the working end, the post is disengaged from the interlock, and the interlock is positioned inside the translation path of the working end; wherein during firing, the working end is advanced and the top flange contacts the head portion of the actuator, causing the post to rotate and the protuberance to ride up along an interior edge of the platform and onto the platform, causing the post to rise above the extension and disengage the interlock which is consequentially forced by the biasing member to rotate into the translation path of the working end; wherein after firing, the working end is movable back to the retracted position, and wherein after the working end is moved back to the retracted position after firing, the working end is prevented from distal translation by the interlock. a first jaw member (108, 408); a second jaw member; a cartridge configured to be selectively coupled to the first jaw member, the cartridge defining a knife channel and including a housing, a plurality of fasteners, a tissue contacting surface, and one or more recessed platform areas (427a, 427b) adjacent to a proximal end of the tissue contacting surface, wherein an aperture is defined through one platform area; a drive member comprising a drive beam having a working end comprising a top flange, the drive member being translatable from a retracted position to an advanced position; an actuator comprising a head portion and a post extending from the head portion, the head portion comprising a tip, a bottom surface, and a protuberance provided on the bottom surface, wherein the post is received within the aperture, and the aperture is configured to allow rotation of the post and head portion; a spring operably coupled to the post and configured to bias the actuator in a direction towards the bottom interior wall of the cartridge assembly; and an interlock comprising an extension rotatably coupled to the cartridge housing and biased into the translation path of the working end by a biasing member, wherein the working end, the actuator, and the interlock each define a pre-fired configuration and a post-fired configuration; wherein in their pre-fired configuration, the working end is in the retracted position, the tip of the actuator extends into the translation path of the working end, the post is engaged with the interlock against the bias of the biasing member, and the interlock is positioned outside of the translation path of the working end; wherein in their post-fired configuration, the working end is in the advanced position, the tip of the actuator is rotated out of the translation path of the working end, the post is disengaged from the interlock, and the interlock is positioned inside the translation path of the working end; wherein during firing, the working end is advanced and the top flange contacts the head portion of the actuator, causing the post to rotate and the protuberance to ride up along an interior edge of the platform and onto the platform, causing the post to rise above the extension and disengage the interlock which is consequentially forced by the biasing member to rotate into the translation path of the working end; wherein after firing, the working end is movable back to the retracted position, and wherein after the working end is moved back to the retracted position after firing, the working end is prevented from distal translation by the interlock.