A surgical stapler comprising: (a) a first elongate member having a distal portion that supports a plurality of staple forming pockets; (b) a second elongate member having a distal portion configured to receive a staple cartridge; (c) a clamp member operable to releasably clamp the first and second elongate members (404, 402) together; (d) a rotatable latch member provided on one of the first elongate member or the second elongate member and configured to rotate relative thereto about a laterally extending pin, wherein the rotatable latch member is configured to releasably couple proximal ends (442, 408) of the first and second elongate members (404, 402) together with a resilient bias such that the first and second elongate members (404, 402) are pivotable relative to one another about a first pivot axis at the proximal ends (442, 408); and (e) a decoupling mechanism, wherein the decoupling mechanism comprises: (i) a first decoupling feature provided at the proximal end of the first elongate member, and (ii) a second decoupling feature provided at the proximal end of the second elongate member, characterised in that the first and second decoupling features (504, 502) are configured to engage in response to the first and second elongate members (404, 402) being pivoted away from one another; and in that the first and second elongate members (404, 402) are configured to pivot about a second pivot axis that is arranged proximal to the first pivot axis when the first and second decoupling features (504, 502) engage and thereby overcome the resilient bias of the rotatable latch member to decouple the proximal ends (442, 408) in response to the first and second elongate members (404, 402) being further pivoted away from one another. (a) a first elongate member having a distal portion that supports a plurality of staple forming pockets; (b) a second elongate member having a distal portion configured to receive a staple cartridge; (c) a clamp member operable to releasably clamp the first and second elongate members (404, 402) together; (d) a rotatable latch member provided on one of the first elongate member or the second elongate member and configured to rotate relative thereto about a laterally extending pin, wherein the rotatable latch member is configured to releasably couple proximal ends (442, 408) of the first and second elongate members (404, 402) together with a resilient bias such that the first and second elongate members (404, 402) are pivotable relative to one another about a first pivot axis at the proximal ends (442, 408); and (e) a decoupling mechanism, wherein the decoupling mechanism comprises: (i) a first decoupling feature provided at the proximal end of the first elongate member, and (ii) a second decoupling feature provided at the proximal end of the second elongate member, characterised in that the first and second decoupling features (504, 502) are configured to engage in response to the first and second elongate members (404, 402) being pivoted away from one another; and in that the first and second elongate members (404, 402) are configured to pivot about a second pivot axis that is arranged proximal to the first pivot axis when the first and second decoupling features (504, 502) engage and thereby overcome the resilient bias of the rotatable latch member to decouple the proximal ends (442, 408) in response to the first and second elongate members (404, 402) being further pivoted away from one another. (i) a first decoupling feature provided at the proximal end of the first elongate member, and (ii) a second decoupling feature provided at the proximal end of the second elongate member, the first and second decoupling features (504, 502) are configured to engage in response to the first and second elongate members (404, 402) being pivoted away from one another; and in that the first and second elongate members (404, 402) are configured to pivot about a second pivot axis that is arranged proximal to the first pivot axis when the first and second decoupling features (504, 502) engage and thereby overcome the resilient bias of the rotatable latch member to decouple the proximal ends (442, 408) in response to the first and second elongate members (404, 402) being further pivoted away from one another.