A staple cartridge assembly for use with a surgical stapler, wherein said staple cartridge assembly comprises: a cartridge body (2010, 2110,2710), comprising: a proximal cartridge end; a distal cartridge end; a deck (2014, 2114, 2714); a staple cavity, comprising: a top opening defined in said deck; a proximal cavity end; a distal cavity end; a proximal guide comprising a proximal guide slot; a distal guide comprising a distal guide slot and a cavity slot extending between said proximal cavity end and said distal cavity end; a proximal projection that extends from said deck and at least partially around the proximal guide slot; and a distal projection that extends from said deck and at least partially around the distal guide slot; a staple removably stored in said staple cavity, comprising: a proximal leg positioned within said proximal guide; a distal leg positioned within said distal guide; and a base extending between said proximal leg and said distal leg, wherein said base is positioned in said cavity slot, characterised in that said proximal guide slot extends laterally with respect to said cavity slot from said proximal cavity end, and said distal guide slot extends laterally with respect to said cavity slot from said distal cavity end. a cartridge body (2010, 2110,2710), comprising: a proximal cartridge end; a distal cartridge end; a deck (2014, 2114, 2714); a staple cavity, comprising: a top opening defined in said deck; a proximal cavity end; a distal cavity end; a proximal guide comprising a proximal guide slot; a distal guide comprising a distal guide slot and a cavity slot extending between said proximal cavity end and said distal cavity end; a proximal cartridge end; a distal cartridge end; a deck (2014, 2114, 2714); a staple cavity, comprising: a top opening defined in said deck; a proximal cavity end; a distal cavity end; a proximal guide comprising a proximal guide slot; a distal guide comprising a distal guide slot and a cavity slot extending between said proximal cavity end and said distal cavity end; a top opening defined in said deck; a proximal cavity end; a distal cavity end; a proximal guide comprising a proximal guide slot; a distal guide comprising a distal guide slot and a cavity slot extending between said proximal cavity end and said distal cavity end; a proximal projection that extends from said deck and at least partially around the proximal guide slot; and a distal projection that extends from said deck and at least partially around the distal guide slot; a staple removably stored in said staple cavity, comprising: a proximal leg positioned within said proximal guide; a distal leg positioned within said distal guide; and a base extending between said proximal leg and said distal leg, wherein said base is positioned in said cavity slot, a proximal leg positioned within said proximal guide; a distal leg positioned within said distal guide; and a base extending between said proximal leg and said distal leg, wherein said base is positioned in said cavity slot, characterised in that said proximal guide slot extends laterally with respect to said cavity slot from said proximal cavity end, and said distal guide slot extends laterally with respect to said cavity slot from said distal cavity end.