A surgical stapling device comprising: an elongate body defining a longitudinal axis and having a proximal portion and a distal portion, the elongate body including: a pusher drive member having an inner surface defining a through bore having a tapered distal portion; and a knife carrier pusher received within the pusher drive member; a reload assembly including: a housing; a staple cartridge supporting a plurality of staples; a pusher assembly movably supported within the housing between a retracted position and an advanced position to eject the plurality of staples from the staple cartridge, the pusher assembly having an inner surface defining a through bore, the inner surface having a proximal portion defining a counter bore; and a knife carrier movably positioned within the through bore defined by the pusher assembly, wherein the knife carrier supports a knife and includes a first engagement structure, the knife carrier having at least one detent positioned distally to the first engagement structure; the knife carrier pusher including a second engagement structure configured to releasably engage the first engagement structure of the knife carrier to couple the knife carrier pusher to the knife carrier, the first engagement structure being movable from a first position engaged with the second engagement structure to a second position disengaged from the second engagement structure; wherein when the surgical stapling device is in a pre-fired state, the at least one detent is positioned within the counter bore of the pusher assembly, and when the knife carrier is retracted after the surgical stapling device has been actuated to eject the plurality of staples and to dissect tissue, the detents are positioned to engage the tapered distal portion of the pusher drive member to urge the first engagement from the first position towards the second position to uncouple the knife carrier from the knife carrier pusher. an elongate body defining a longitudinal axis and having a proximal portion and a distal portion, the elongate body including: a pusher drive member having an inner surface defining a through bore having a tapered distal portion; and a knife carrier pusher received within the pusher drive member; a pusher drive member having an inner surface defining a through bore having a tapered distal portion; and a knife carrier pusher received within the pusher drive member; a reload assembly including: a housing; a staple cartridge supporting a plurality of staples; a pusher assembly movably supported within the housing between a retracted position and an advanced position to eject the plurality of staples from the staple cartridge, the pusher assembly having an inner surface defining a through bore, the inner surface having a proximal portion defining a counter bore; and a knife carrier movably positioned within the through bore defined by the pusher assembly, wherein the knife carrier supports a knife and includes a first engagement structure, the knife carrier having at least one detent positioned distally to the first engagement structure; a housing; a staple cartridge supporting a plurality of staples; a pusher assembly movably supported within the housing between a retracted position and an advanced position to eject the plurality of staples from the staple cartridge, the pusher assembly having an inner surface defining a through bore, the inner surface having a proximal portion defining a counter bore; and a knife carrier movably positioned within the through bore defined by the pusher assembly, wherein the knife carrier supports a knife and includes a first engagement structure, the knife carrier having at least one detent positioned distally to the first engagement structure; the knife carrier pusher including a second engagement structure configured to releasably engage the first engagement structure of the knife carrier to couple the knife carrier pusher to the knife carrier, the first engagement structure being movable from a first position engaged with the second engagement structure to a second position disengaged from the second engagement structure; wherein when the surgical stapling device is in a pre-fired state, the at least one detent is positioned within the counter bore of the pusher assembly, and when the knife carrier is retracted after the surgical stapling device has been actuated to eject the plurality of staples and to dissect tissue, the detents are positioned to engage the tapered distal portion of the pusher drive member to urge the first engagement from the first position towards the second position to uncouple the knife carrier from the knife carrier pusher.