A surgical stapler, comprising: a control handle (2, 3, 4, 220, 1100, 1200) having an articulation joint actuator (4, 222, 1100, 1104, 1105), said articulation joint actuator having an unactuated state and an actuated state; a surgical end effector (1, 20, 30, 100, 210, 310, 1002) including a pivotally coupled anvil; an articulation joint (10, 50, 212, 522, 1010, 1040, 1050, 1080, 2010, 2020, 2030, 2040) connecting said surgical end effector (1, 20, 30, 100, 210, 310, 1002) to an instrument shaft (226, 1110) that is disposed between said surgical end effector (1, 20, 30, 100, 210, 310, 1002) and said control handle (2, 3, 4, 220, 1100, 1200); and said articulation joint actuator (4, 222, 1100, 1104, 1105): when in said unactuated state, holding said articulation joint (10, 50, 212, 522, 1010, 1040, 1050, 1080, 2010, 2020, 2030, 2040) and, thereby, said surgical end effector (1, 20, 30, 100, 210, 310, 1002), in a substantially fixed articulation position; and when in said actuated state, releasing said articulation joint (10, 50, 212, 522, 1010, 1040, 1050, 1080, 2010, 2020, 2030, 2040) into a freely articulating state to permit free articulation of said surgical end effector (1, 20, 30, 100, 210, 310, 1002) with respect to said instrument shaft (226, 1110), wherein said control handle (2, 3, 4, 220, 1100, 1200) does not have any mechanical control device to effect direct control of the angular position of the end effector relative to said instrument shaft (226, 1110), and the surgical end effector (10, 20, 30, 100, 210, 310, 1002) is suitable to be passively moved into an articulated position by pressing a portion of the end effector against a feature of the environment when the articulation joint (10, 50, 212, 522, 1010, 1040, 1050, 1080, 2010, 2020, 2030, 2040) is in said free articulating state. a control handle (2, 3, 4, 220, 1100, 1200) having an articulation joint actuator (4, 222, 1100, 1104, 1105), said articulation joint actuator having an unactuated state and an actuated state; a surgical end effector (1, 20, 30, 100, 210, 310, 1002) including a pivotally coupled anvil; an articulation joint (10, 50, 212, 522, 1010, 1040, 1050, 1080, 2010, 2020, 2030, 2040) connecting said surgical end effector (1, 20, 30, 100, 210, 310, 1002) to an instrument shaft (226, 1110) that is disposed between said surgical end effector (1, 20, 30, 100, 210, 310, 1002) and said control handle (2, 3, 4, 220, 1100, 1200); and said articulation joint actuator (4, 222, 1100, 1104, 1105): when in said unactuated state, holding said articulation joint (10, 50, 212, 522, 1010, 1040, 1050, 1080, 2010, 2020, 2030, 2040) and, thereby, said surgical end effector (1, 20, 30, 100, 210, 310, 1002), in a substantially fixed articulation position; and when in said actuated state, releasing said articulation joint (10, 50, 212, 522, 1010, 1040, 1050, 1080, 2010, 2020, 2030, 2040) into a freely articulating state to permit free articulation of said surgical end effector (1, 20, 30, 100, 210, 310, 1002) with respect to said instrument shaft (226, 1110), wherein when in said unactuated state, holding said articulation joint (10, 50, 212, 522, 1010, 1040, 1050, 1080, 2010, 2020, 2030, 2040) and, thereby, said surgical end effector (1, 20, 30, 100, 210, 310, 1002), in a substantially fixed articulation position; and when in said actuated state, releasing said articulation joint (10, 50, 212, 522, 1010, 1040, 1050, 1080, 2010, 2020, 2030, 2040) into a freely articulating state to permit free articulation of said surgical end effector (1, 20, 30, 100, 210, 310, 1002) with respect to said instrument shaft (226, 1110), wherein said control handle (2, 3, 4, 220, 1100, 1200) does not have any mechanical control device to effect direct control of the angular position of the end effector relative to said instrument shaft (226, 1110), and the surgical end effector (10, 20, 30, 100, 210, 310, 1002) is suitable to be passively moved into an articulated position by pressing a portion of the end effector against a feature of the environment when the articulation joint (10, 50, 212, 522, 1010, 1040, 1050, 1080, 2010, 2020, 2030, 2040) is in said free articulating state.