An apparatus, comprising: (a) a body; (b) an shaft assembly extending distally from the body; and (c) an end effector located at the distal end of the shaft assembly, wherein the end effector comprises: (i) a cutting member, wherein the cutting member includes: a first vertical end, a blade, and a distally projecting feature vertically positioned between the first vertical end and the blade, (ii) a jaw, (iii) a staple cartridge (270; 400; 410) configured for insertion in the jaw, wherein the staple cartridge (270; 400; 410) comprises: a plurality of surgical staples, and a movable member operable to drive the staples into tissue in response to distal advancement of the cutting member, wherein the distally projecting feature is configured to engage the movable member, (iv) a lockout feature (222, 224) configured to prevent distal advancement of the cutting member in the presence of a spent staple cartridge, wherein the lockout feature comprises: a blocking portion configured to engage the cutting member to prevent distal advancement of the cutting member, and a resilient member, wherein the resilient member is configured to bias the cutting member into engagement with the blocking portion; and characterized by (v) a lockout bypass feature (404; 406; 412; 420; 440) configured to engage the cutting member to thereby bypass the lockout feature (222, 224) when distal advancement of the cutting member is being prevented by the lockout feature (222, 224) due to the presence of a spent staple cartridge, wherein the lockout bypass feature is configured to bear a load imposed by the resilient member on the cutting member during distal advancement of the cutting member to prevent the blocking portion engaging the cutting member. (a) a body; (b) an shaft assembly extending distally from the body; and (c) an end effector located at the distal end of the shaft assembly, wherein the end effector comprises: (i) a cutting member, wherein the cutting member includes: a first vertical end, a blade, and a distally projecting feature vertically positioned between the first vertical end and the blade, (ii) a jaw, (iii) a staple cartridge (270; 400; 410) configured for insertion in the jaw, wherein the staple cartridge (270; 400; 410) comprises: a plurality of surgical staples, and a movable member operable to drive the staples into tissue in response to distal advancement of the cutting member, wherein the distally projecting feature is configured to engage the movable member, (iv) a lockout feature (222, 224) configured to prevent distal advancement of the cutting member in the presence of a spent staple cartridge, wherein the lockout feature comprises: a blocking portion configured to engage the cutting member to prevent distal advancement of the cutting member, and a resilient member, wherein the resilient member is configured to bias the cutting member into engagement with the blocking portion; and characterized by (v) a lockout bypass feature (404; 406; 412; 420; 440) configured to engage the cutting member to thereby bypass the lockout feature (222, 224) when distal advancement of the cutting member is being prevented by the lockout feature (222, 224) due to the presence of a spent staple cartridge, wherein the lockout bypass feature is configured to bear a load imposed by the resilient member on the cutting member during distal advancement of the cutting member to prevent the blocking portion engaging the cutting member. (i) a cutting member, wherein the cutting member includes: a first vertical end, a blade, and a distally projecting feature vertically positioned between the first vertical end and the blade, a first vertical end, a blade, and a distally projecting feature vertically positioned between the first vertical end and the blade, (ii) a jaw, (iii) a staple cartridge (270; 400; 410) configured for insertion in the jaw, wherein the staple cartridge (270; 400; 410) comprises: a plurality of surgical staples, and a movable member operable to drive the staples into tissue in response to distal advancement of the cutting member, wherein the distally projecting feature is configured to engage the movable member, a plurality of surgical staples, and a movable member operable to drive the staples into tissue in response to distal advancement of the cutting member, wherein the distally projecting feature is configured to engage the movable member, (iv) a lockout feature (222, 224) configured to prevent distal advancement of the cutting member in the presence of a spent staple cartridge, wherein the lockout feature comprises: a blocking portion configured to engage the cutting member to prevent distal advancement of the cutting member, and a resilient member, wherein the resilient member is configured to bias the cutting member into engagement with the blocking portion; and characterized by a blocking portion configured to engage the cutting member to prevent distal advancement of the cutting member, and a resilient member, wherein the resilient member is configured to bias the cutting member into engagement with the blocking portion; and characterized by (v) a lockout bypass feature (404; 406; 412; 420; 440) configured to engage the cutting member to thereby bypass the lockout feature (222, 224) when distal advancement of the cutting member is being prevented by the lockout feature (222, 224) due to the presence of a spent staple cartridge, wherein the lockout bypass feature is configured to bear a load imposed by the resilient member on the cutting member during distal advancement of the cutting member to prevent the blocking portion engaging the cutting member.