A surgical stapling instrument, comprising: (a) an anvil defining a plurality of staple forming pockets; (b) a stapling head assembly comprising: (i) a body, (ii) a coupling member configured to actuate relative to the body to thereby acuate the anvil relative to the body, (iii) a deck surface, wherein the anvil and the deck surface are configured to cooperatively grasp tissue, (iv) a staple driver assembly configured to actuate distally and proximally through a first firing stroke to drive a plurality of staples against the staple forming pockets of the anvil, wherein the staple driver assembly is configured to actuate distally and proximally through a second firing stroke, and (v) a knife member comprising a cutting edge; characterized in that: (vi) a portion of the staple driver assembly is configured to actuate distally past the deck surface during the second firing stroke, (vii) the knife member is configured to actuate with the staple driver assembly during the first firing stroke to sever tissue, wherein the knife member is configured to remain in a retracted position relative to the staple driver assembly such that the cutting edge remains proximal relative to the deck surface throughout the second firing stroke; and (c) the instrument further comprises a retracting assembly configured to drive the knife member into the retracted position during the first firing stroke. (a) an anvil defining a plurality of staple forming pockets; (b) a stapling head assembly comprising: (i) a body, (ii) a coupling member configured to actuate relative to the body to thereby acuate the anvil relative to the body, (iii) a deck surface, wherein the anvil and the deck surface are configured to cooperatively grasp tissue, (iv) a staple driver assembly configured to actuate distally and proximally through a first firing stroke to drive a plurality of staples against the staple forming pockets of the anvil, wherein the staple driver assembly is configured to actuate distally and proximally through a second firing stroke, and (v) a knife member comprising a cutting edge; characterized in that: (vi) a portion of the staple driver assembly is configured to actuate distally past the deck surface during the second firing stroke, (vii) the knife member is configured to actuate with the staple driver assembly during the first firing stroke to sever tissue, wherein the knife member is configured to remain in a retracted position relative to the staple driver assembly such that the cutting edge remains proximal relative to the deck surface throughout the second firing stroke; and (i) a body, (ii) a coupling member configured to actuate relative to the body to thereby acuate the anvil relative to the body, (iii) a deck surface, wherein the anvil and the deck surface are configured to cooperatively grasp tissue, (iv) a staple driver assembly configured to actuate distally and proximally through a first firing stroke to drive a plurality of staples against the staple forming pockets of the anvil, wherein the staple driver assembly is configured to actuate distally and proximally through a second firing stroke, and (v) a knife member comprising a cutting edge; (vi) a portion of the staple driver assembly is configured to actuate distally past the deck surface during the second firing stroke, (vii) the knife member is configured to actuate with the staple driver assembly during the first firing stroke to sever tissue, wherein the knife member is configured to remain in a retracted position relative to the staple driver assembly such that the cutting edge remains proximal relative to the deck surface throughout the second firing stroke; and (c) the instrument further comprises a retracting assembly configured to drive the knife member into the retracted position during the first firing stroke.