A reload assembly suitable for a circular stapling device comprising: a shell housing including an inner housing portion and an outer housing portion, the inner housing portion spaced from the outer housing portion to define an annular cavity; a staple cartridge supported on a distal portion of the shell housing, the staple cartridge having a plurality of staple pockets, each of the staple pockets receiving a staple; a pusher assembly supported within the annular cavity, the pusher assembly movable between a retracted position and an advanced position to eject the staples from the staple cartridge; a knife carrier supported within the annular cavity, said knife carrier defining a longitudinal axis and supporting a knife, the knife carrier defining a stepped central bore having a distal portion and a proximal portion and including a shoulder positioned between the distal and proximal portions (172b, 172a) of the central bore; and at least one engagement member supported on the knife carrier, the at least one engagement member positioned to engage the inner housing portion of the shell housing when the knife carrier is in a retracted position to retain the knife carrier in said retracted position until a predetermined force is applied to the knife carrier to disengage the at least one engagement member from the inner housing portion, wherein the inner housing portion of the shell housing has an outer surface defining at least one recess and the at least one engagement member is received within the at least one recess when the knife carrier is in said retracted position, and wherein the at least one engagement member includes a carrier spring that is supported on the shoulder of the knife carrier, the carrier spring extending across a portion of the stepped central bore and received within the at least one recess when the knife carrier is in said retracted position, and wherein the at least one recess includes two recesses and the at least one engagement member includes two carrier springs, each of the carrier springs being received in a respective one of the two recesses when the knife carrier is in said retracted position, and wherein the at least one recess defines a distal wall, the distal wall defining the at least one recess defining a wall axis, the wall axis and the longitudinal axis of the knife carrier defining an angle Ω of between 45 degrees and 85 degrees. a shell housing including an inner housing portion and an outer housing portion, the inner housing portion spaced from the outer housing portion to define an annular cavity; a staple cartridge supported on a distal portion of the shell housing, the staple cartridge having a plurality of staple pockets, each of the staple pockets receiving a staple; a pusher assembly supported within the annular cavity, the pusher assembly movable between a retracted position and an advanced position to eject the staples from the staple cartridge; a knife carrier supported within the annular cavity, said knife carrier defining a longitudinal axis and supporting a knife, the knife carrier defining a stepped central bore having a distal portion and a proximal portion and including a shoulder positioned between the distal and proximal portions (172b, 172a) of the central bore; and at least one engagement member supported on the knife carrier, the at least one engagement member positioned to engage the inner housing portion of the shell housing when the knife carrier is in a retracted position to retain the knife carrier in said retracted position until a predetermined force is applied to the knife carrier to disengage the at least one engagement member from the inner housing portion, wherein the inner housing portion of the shell housing has an outer surface defining at least one recess and the at least one engagement member is received within the at least one recess when the knife carrier is in said retracted position, and wherein the at least one engagement member includes a carrier spring that is supported on the shoulder of the knife carrier, the carrier spring extending across a portion of the stepped central bore and received within the at least one recess when the knife carrier is in said retracted position, and wherein the at least one recess includes two recesses and the at least one engagement member includes two carrier springs, each of the carrier springs being received in a respective one of the two recesses when the knife carrier is in said retracted position, and wherein the at least one recess defines a distal wall, the distal wall defining the at least one recess defining a wall axis, the wall axis and the longitudinal axis of the knife carrier defining an angle Ω of between 45 degrees and 85 degrees.