A surgical stapler comprising: an elongate shaft having a proximal end and a distal end and defining a longitudinal axis between the proximal end and the distal end; a handle assembly disposed at the proximal end of the elongate shaft; an actuation mechanism actuatable by the handle assembly, the actuation mechanism comprising an actuation beam (150, 250, 450, 550) extending through at least a portion of the elongate shaft; a jaw assembly (130, 230, 430, 530) disposed at the distal end of the elongate shaft, the jaw assembly (130, 230, 430, 530) comprising: a first jaw (102, 202, 402, 502) defining a first clamping surface (104, 204, 404, 504); a second jaw (106, 206, 406, 506) defining a second clamping surface; and a plurality of staples; wherein the jaw assembly (130, 230, 430, 530) is actuatable by longitudinal movement of the actuation beam (150, 250, 450, 550) between a closed position in which the first clamping surface (104, 204, 404, 504) is positioned adjacent the second clamping surface (108, 208, 408, 508), an open position in which the second clamping surface (108, 208, 408, 508) extends at an angle transverse to the first clamping surface (104, 204, 404, 504), and a stapling position in which the first clamping surface (104, 204, 404, 504) extends parallel to the second clamping surface (108, 208, 408, 508) and is spaced apart from the second clamping surface (108, 208, 408, 508); characterized in that the jaw assembly (130, 230, 430, 530) further comprises a link (112, 212, 412, 512) having a proximal end pivotably coupled to the distal end of the elongate shaft and a distal end pivotably coupled to the second jaw (106, 206, 406, 506). an elongate shaft having a proximal end and a distal end and defining a longitudinal axis between the proximal end and the distal end; a handle assembly disposed at the proximal end of the elongate shaft; an actuation mechanism actuatable by the handle assembly, the actuation mechanism comprising an actuation beam (150, 250, 450, 550) extending through at least a portion of the elongate shaft; a jaw assembly (130, 230, 430, 530) disposed at the distal end of the elongate shaft, the jaw assembly (130, 230, 430, 530) comprising: a first jaw (102, 202, 402, 502) defining a first clamping surface (104, 204, 404, 504); a second jaw (106, 206, 406, 506) defining a second clamping surface; and a plurality of staples; a first jaw (102, 202, 402, 502) defining a first clamping surface (104, 204, 404, 504); a second jaw (106, 206, 406, 506) defining a second clamping surface; and a plurality of staples; wherein the jaw assembly (130, 230, 430, 530) is actuatable by longitudinal movement of the actuation beam (150, 250, 450, 550) between a closed position in which the first clamping surface (104, 204, 404, 504) is positioned adjacent the second clamping surface (108, 208, 408, 508), an open position in which the second clamping surface (108, 208, 408, 508) extends at an angle transverse to the first clamping surface (104, 204, 404, 504), and a stapling position in which the first clamping surface (104, 204, 404, 504) extends parallel to the second clamping surface (108, 208, 408, 508) and is spaced apart from the second clamping surface (108, 208, 408, 508); characterized in that the jaw assembly (130, 230, 430, 530) further comprises a link (112, 212, 412, 512) having a proximal end pivotably coupled to the distal end of the elongate shaft and a distal end pivotably coupled to the second jaw (106, 206, 406, 506).