A surgical end effector, comprising: a first jaw; an anvil supported relative to said first jaw for selective movement relative to said first jaw between an open position and a closed position relative to each other; a firing member supported for axial movement within the surgical end effector between a beginning position and an ending position upon applications of firing and retraction motions thereto; a lock member (1730; 1740; 1750; 1760) that is movable between a locked configuration wherein said firing member is prevented from axial travel through the surgical end effector and an unlocked configuration wherein said firing member is axially advanceable through the surgical end effector; and a surgical staple cartridge comprising: a cartridge body sized to be seated within said first jaw, said cartridge body operably supporting a plurality of surgical staples arranged in staple lines therein; and a cam assembly movable between a starting position and an end position within said cartridge body, said cam assembly defining a central axis and comprising a plurality of cam features thereon wherein each said cam feature corresponds to at least one of said staple lines, said cam assembly further comprising at least one unlocking feature thereon laterally offset from said central axis and being configured to unlockingly engage a corresponding portion of said lock member (1730; 1740; 1750; 1760) when said cartridge body is seated within said first jaw and said cam assembly is in said starting position to thereby prevent said lock member (1730; 1740; 1750; 1760) from attaining said locked configuration when said anvil is moved to the closed position, wherein said at least one unlocking feature comprises: a first unlocking ramp formed on a proximal end of said cam assembly in a position that is laterally offset to one side of said central axis; and a second unlocking ramp formed on said proximal end of said cam assembly in another position that is laterally offset on an opposite side of said central axis. a first jaw; an anvil supported relative to said first jaw for selective movement relative to said first jaw between an open position and a closed position relative to each other; a firing member supported for axial movement within the surgical end effector between a beginning position and an ending position upon applications of firing and retraction motions thereto; a lock member (1730; 1740; 1750; 1760) that is movable between a locked configuration wherein said firing member is prevented from axial travel through the surgical end effector and an unlocked configuration wherein said firing member is axially advanceable through the surgical end effector; and a surgical staple cartridge comprising: a cartridge body sized to be seated within said first jaw, said cartridge body operably supporting a plurality of surgical staples arranged in staple lines therein; and a cam assembly movable between a starting position and an end position within said cartridge body, said cam assembly defining a central axis and comprising a plurality of cam features thereon wherein each said cam feature corresponds to at least one of said staple lines, said cam assembly further comprising at least one unlocking feature thereon laterally offset from said central axis and being configured to unlockingly engage a corresponding portion of said lock member (1730; 1740; 1750; 1760) when said cartridge body is seated within said first jaw and said cam assembly is in said starting position to thereby prevent said lock member (1730; 1740; 1750; 1760) from attaining said locked configuration when said anvil is moved to the closed position, wherein said at least one unlocking feature comprises: a first unlocking ramp formed on a proximal end of said cam assembly in a position that is laterally offset to one side of said central axis; and a second unlocking ramp formed on said proximal end of said cam assembly in another position that is laterally offset on an opposite side of said central axis. a cartridge body sized to be seated within said first jaw, said cartridge body operably supporting a plurality of surgical staples arranged in staple lines therein; and a cam assembly movable between a starting position and an end position within said cartridge body, said cam assembly defining a central axis and comprising a plurality of cam features thereon wherein each said cam feature corresponds to at least one of said staple lines, said cam assembly further comprising at least one unlocking feature thereon laterally offset from said central axis and being configured to unlockingly engage a corresponding portion of said lock member (1730; 1740; 1750; 1760) when said cartridge body is seated within said first jaw and said cam assembly is in said starting position to thereby prevent said lock member (1730; 1740; 1750; 1760) from attaining said locked configuration when said anvil is moved to the closed position, wherein said at least one unlocking feature comprises: a first unlocking ramp formed on a proximal end of said cam assembly in a position that is laterally offset to one side of said central axis; and a second unlocking ramp formed on said proximal end of said cam assembly in another position that is laterally offset on an opposite side of said central axis. a first unlocking ramp formed on a proximal end of said cam assembly in a position that is laterally offset to one side of said central axis; and a second unlocking ramp formed on said proximal end of said cam assembly in another position that is laterally offset on an opposite side of said central axis.