A surgical end effector comprising: a first jaw (1310, 4000) comprising a first jaw proximal end portion and a first jaw distal end portion; a second jaw comprising a second jaw distal end portion and a second jaw proximal mounting portion pivotally supported on said first jaw proximal end portion such that said second jaw is pivotable relative to said first jaw (1310, 4000) about a pivot axis between an open position, a closed position wherein a clearance distance is present between said first and second jaws, and an over-closed position wherein said second jaw distal end portion contacts said first jaw distal end portion; and an end effector closure tube selectively movable toward said second jaw proximal mounting portion during a closure stroke for engagement therewith, wherein said end effector closure tube comprises: an external wall surface; and an internal wall surface configured to engage said second jaw proximal mounting portion to move said second jaw distal end portion toward said first jaw distal end portion during said closure stroke, said end effector closure tube comprising a uniform wall thickness between said external wall surface and said internal wall surface; wherein said end effector closure tube contacts discrete load transfer locations (2070L, 2072L, 2074L, 2076L, 2070R, 2072R, 2074R, 2076R) on said second jaw mounting portion located on each side of a vertical plane that bisects said end effector when said second jaw is in said over-closed position; characterized in that said discrete load transfer locations located on each side of said vertical plane comprise a pair of discrete load transfer locations (2070L, 2072L) located on one side of said vertical plane and another pair of discrete load transfer locations (2070R, 2072R) located on the other side of said vertical plane, wherein each said pair of discrete load transfer locations comprises: a first discrete load transfer location (2070L; 2070R); and a second discrete load transfer location (2070R; 2072R) spaced from said first discrete load transfer location (2070L; 2070R). a first jaw (1310, 4000) comprising a first jaw proximal end portion and a first jaw distal end portion; a second jaw comprising a second jaw distal end portion and a second jaw proximal mounting portion pivotally supported on said first jaw proximal end portion such that said second jaw is pivotable relative to said first jaw (1310, 4000) about a pivot axis between an open position, a closed position wherein a clearance distance is present between said first and second jaws, and an over-closed position wherein said second jaw distal end portion contacts said first jaw distal end portion; and an end effector closure tube selectively movable toward said second jaw proximal mounting portion during a closure stroke for engagement therewith, wherein said end effector closure tube comprises: an external wall surface; and an internal wall surface configured to engage said second jaw proximal mounting portion to move said second jaw distal end portion toward said first jaw distal end portion during said closure stroke, said end effector closure tube comprising a uniform wall thickness between said external wall surface and said internal wall surface; wherein said end effector closure tube contacts discrete load transfer locations (2070L, 2072L, 2074L, 2076L, 2070R, 2072R, 2074R, 2076R) on said second jaw mounting portion located on each side of a vertical plane that bisects an external wall surface; and an internal wall surface configured to engage said second jaw proximal mounting portion to move said second jaw distal end portion toward said first jaw distal end portion during said closure stroke, said end effector closure tube comprising a uniform wall thickness between said external wall surface and said internal wall surface; wherein said end effector closure tube contacts discrete load transfer locations (2070L, 2072L, 2074L, 2076L, 2070R, 2072R, 2074R, 2076R) on said second jaw mounting portion located on each side of a vertical plane that bisects said end effector when said second jaw is in said over-closed position; characterized in that said discrete load transfer locations located on each side of said vertical plane comprise a pair of discrete load transfer locations (2070L, 2072L) located on one side of said vertical plane and another pair of discrete load transfer locations (2070R, 2072R) located on the other side of said vertical plane, wherein each said pair of discrete load transfer locations comprises: a first discrete load transfer location (2070L; 2070R); and a second discrete load transfer location (2070R; 2072R) spaced from said first discrete load transfer location (2070L; 2070R). a first discrete load transfer location (2070L; 2070R); and a second discrete load transfer location (2070R; 2072R) spaced from said first discrete load transfer location (2070L; 2070R).