A cartridge for holding surgical fasteners, comprising: a base having a plurality of upstanding walls, adjacent pairs of walls defining spaces for holding surgical fasteners; at least one surgical fastener securing member configured to be arranged in a closed position with respect to the base, wherein fasteners in the spaces are covered and held in the spaces; wherein the surgical fastener securing member has a sidewall portion connected to the base, and a flexible retaining member extending from the sidewall portion over at least a portion of one of the spaces when the surgical fastener securing member is in the closed position, whereby fasteners can be held in the spaces and then removed when desired while the surgical fastener securing member is in the closed position, while the surgical fastener securing member is in the closed position, the sidewall portion is arranged perpendicular with the base, the flexible retaining members are at an incline downwardly into the space between the walls and are configured to contact ends of the surgical fasteners, wherein the flexible retaining member defines an acute angle with the sidewall portion, characterized in that the at least one surgical fastener securing member is movably connected to the base and movable relative to the base from an open position wherein fasteners can be loaded into the spaces, and the closed position; and by a locking structure engageable between the base and the surgical fastener securing member for locking the surgical fastener securing member in the closed position, wherein the sidewall portion is connected to the base by a living hinge which defines a pivot axis for movement of the surgical fastener securing member relative to the base. a base having a plurality of upstanding walls, adjacent pairs of walls defining spaces for holding surgical fasteners; at least one surgical fastener securing member configured to be arranged in a closed position with respect to the base, wherein fasteners in the spaces are covered and held in the spaces; wherein the surgical fastener securing member has a sidewall portion connected to the base, and a flexible retaining member extending from the sidewall portion over at least a portion of one of the spaces when the surgical fastener securing member is in the closed position, whereby fasteners can be held in the spaces and then removed when desired while the surgical fastener securing member is in the closed position, while the surgical fastener securing member is in the closed position, the sidewall portion is arranged perpendicular with the base, the flexible retaining members are at an incline downwardly into the space between the walls and are configured to contact ends of the surgical fasteners, wherein the flexible retaining member defines an acute angle with the sidewall portion, characterized in that the at least one surgical fastener securing member is movably connected to the base and movable relative to the base from an open position wherein fasteners can be loaded into the spaces, and the closed position; and by a locking structure engageable between the base and the surgical fastener securing member for locking the surgical fastener securing member in the closed position, wherein the sidewall portion is connected to the base by a living hinge which defines a pivot axis for movement of the surgical fastener securing member relative to the base.