A staple cartridge comprising: a housing, the housing defining a set of three rows of retention slots (R1, R2, R3) on either side of a central longitudinal axis of the cartridge, each set of the three rows defining a first outer row, a second outer row, and an inner row of retention slots positioned between the first and second outer rows (R1, R3) of retention slots and wherein the slots are arranged in columns in which one or more retention slots are positioned along a common axis which is transverse with respect to the longitudinal axis with some columns including two retention slots while others include one retention slot that are symmetrically disposed about the longitudinal axis; each set of the three rows of retention slots having a first staple pusher disposed at a distal end of the cartridge, each first staple pusher being laterally spaced apart and symmetrically positioned about the longitudinal axis of the housing, each first staple pusher defining a central longitudinal axis including only two pusher plates (1266, 1267), each pusher plate including a top surface (1266c, 1267c), the top surfaces of the pusher plates (1266, 1267) being substantially symmetrical about the central longitudinal axis and laterally spaced apart along an axis transverse to the central longitudinal axis to operably engage staples retained in the first and second outer rows (R1, R3) of retention slots; and each set of the three rows of retention slots having a second staple pusher positioned adjacent and proximal to the first staple pusher, the second staple pusher including only two pusher plates (366x, 366y) that are longitudinally and laterally spaced apart from one another, lying in a plane parallel to the longitudinal axis for operably engaging staples retained in an outer and the inner row of the retention slots. a housing, the housing defining a set of three rows of retention slots (R1, R2, R3) on either side of a central longitudinal axis of the cartridge, each set of the three rows defining a first outer row, a second outer row, and an inner row of retention slots positioned between the first and second outer rows (R1, R3) of retention slots and wherein the slots are arranged in columns in which one or more retention slots are positioned along a common axis which is transverse with respect to the longitudinal axis with some columns including two retention slots while others include one retention slot that are symmetrically disposed about the longitudinal axis; each set of the three rows of retention slots having a first staple pusher disposed at a distal end of the cartridge, each first staple pusher being laterally spaced apart and symmetrically positioned about the longitudinal axis of the housing, each first staple pusher defining a central longitudinal axis including only two pusher plates (1266, 1267), each pusher plate including a top surface (1266c, 1267c), the top surfaces of the pusher plates (1266, 1267) being substantially symmetrical about the central longitudinal axis and laterally spaced apart along an axis transverse to the central longitudinal axis to operably engage staples retained in the first and second outer rows (R1, R3) of retention slots; and each set of the three rows of retention slots having a second staple pusher positioned adjacent and proximal to the first staple pusher, the second staple pusher including only two pusher plates (366x, 366y) that are longitudinally and laterally spaced apart from one another, lying in a plane parallel to the longitudinal axis for operably engaging staples retained in an outer and the inner row of the retention slots.