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 jaw assembly positioned at the distal end of the elongate shaft, the jaw assembly comprising: a first jaw; a second jaw; and a plurality of staples; wherein the jaw assembly is selectively positionable in one of a closed configuration, an open configuration, and a firing configuration; and a handle assembly positioned at the proximal end of the elongate shaft, the handle assembly comprising: a stationary handle; a movable handle; and an actuation shaft longitudinally slideable within the handle assembly with respect to the longitudinal axis the actuation shaft and rotatable within the handle assembly with respect to the longitudinal axis; wherein the actuation shaft is operably coupled to the jaw assembly and the actuation shaft is longitudinally slideable in a first direction from a first position corresponding to the open configuration of the jaw assembly to a second position corresponding to the closed configuration of the jaw assembly and from the second position to a third position corresponding to the firing configuration; and further comprising an actuation mechanism operably coupling the actuation shaft to the movable handle, characterized in that the actuation shaft is rotatable between a first orientation in which the actuation mechanism is in a firing mode such that movement of the movable handle moves the actuation shaft between the second position and the third position and a second orientation in which the actuation mechanism is in a reverse mode such that movement of the movable handle moves the actuation shaft from the third position to the first position. 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 jaw assembly positioned at the distal end of the elongate shaft, the jaw assembly comprising: a first jaw; a second jaw; and a plurality of staples; wherein the jaw assembly is selectively positionable in one of a closed configuration, an open configuration, and a firing configuration; and a first jaw; a second jaw; and a plurality of staples; wherein the jaw assembly is selectively positionable in one of a closed configuration, an open configuration, and a firing configuration; and a handle assembly positioned at the proximal end of the elongate shaft, the handle assembly comprising: a stationary handle; a movable handle; and an actuation shaft longitudinally slideable within the handle assembly with respect to the longitudinal axis the actuation shaft and rotatable within the handle assembly with respect to the longitudinal axis; wherein the actuation shaft is operably coupled to the jaw assembly and the actuation shaft is longitudinally slideable in a first direction from a first position corresponding to the open configuration of the jaw assembly to a second position corresponding to the closed configuration of the jaw assembly and from the second position to a third position corresponding to the firing configuration; and further comprising an actuation mechanism operably coupling the actuation shaft to the movable handle, characterized in that the actuation shaft is rotatable between a first orientation in which the actuation mechanism is in a firing mode such that movement of the movable handle moves the actuation shaft between the second position and the third position and a second orientation in which the actuation mechanism is in a reverse mode such that movement of the movable handle moves the actuation shaft from the third position to the first position. a stationary handle; a movable handle; and an actuation shaft longitudinally slideable within the handle assembly with respect to the longitudinal axis the actuation shaft and rotatable within the handle assembly with respect to the longitudinal axis; wherein the actuation shaft is operably coupled to the jaw assembly and the actuation shaft is longitudinally slideable in a first direction from a first position corresponding to the open configuration of the jaw assembly to a second position corresponding to the closed configuration of the jaw assembly and from the second position to a third position corresponding to the firing configuration; and further comprising an actuation mechanism operably coupling the actuation shaft to the movable handle, characterized in that the actuation shaft is rotatable between a first orientation in which the actuation mechanism is in a firing mode such that movement of the movable handle moves the actuation shaft between the second position and the third position and a second orientation in which the actuation mechanism is in a reverse mode such that movement of the movable handle moves the actuation shaft from the third position to the first position.