A surgical clip applier, comprising: a housing; at least one handle pivotably connected to the housing; a channel assembly extending distally from the housing; a clip carrier disposed within the channel assembly and defining a channel; a plurality of clips loaded in the channel of the clip carrier; a drive channel translatably supported in the housing and the channel assembly, the drive channel being translated upon actuation of the at least one handle; characterised by: a ratchet mechanism disposed within the housing, the ratchet mechanism including: a rack member connected to the drive channel such that axial translation of the drive channel results in axial translation of the rack member, the rack member defining a first set of teeth along a first side thereof and a second set of teeth along a second side thereof; a first pawl and a second pawl each tiltably supported in the housing and disposed on respective opposed sides of the rack member; and a buckling spring interposed between the first pawl and the second pawl and constrained in a slot formed in the rack member, wherein the buckling spring is dimensioned so as to bow in one of a proximal direction and a distal direction by a proximal or distal end of the slot; wherein, when the buckling spring is bowed in the proximal direction, the first pawl and the second pawl are engaged with the rack member in an orientation so as to permit the drive channel to move in a distal direction; and wherein, when the buckling spring is bowed in the distal direction, the first pawl and the second pawl are engaged with the rack member in a reverse or different orientation so as to permit the drive channel to move in a proximal direction. a housing; at least one handle pivotably connected to the housing; a channel assembly extending distally from the housing; a clip carrier disposed within the channel assembly and defining a channel; a plurality of clips loaded in the channel of the clip carrier; a drive channel translatably supported in the housing and the channel assembly, the drive channel being translated upon actuation of the at least one handle; characterised by: a ratchet mechanism disposed within the housing, the ratchet mechanism including: a rack member connected to the drive channel such that axial translation of the drive channel results in axial translation of the rack member, the rack member defining a first set of teeth along a first side thereof and a second set of teeth along a second side thereof; a first pawl and a second pawl each tiltably supported in the housing and disposed on respective opposed sides of the rack member; and a buckling spring interposed between the first pawl and the second pawl and constrained in a slot formed in the rack member, wherein the buckling spring is dimensioned so as to bow in one of a proximal direction and a distal direction by a proximal or distal end of the slot; wherein, when the buckling spring is bowed in the proximal direction, the first pawl and the second pawl are engaged with the rack member in an orientation so as to permit the drive channel to move in a distal direction; and wherein, when the buckling spring is bowed in the distal direction, the first pawl and the second pawl are engaged with the rack member in a reverse or different orientation so as to permit the drive channel to move in a proximal direction. a rack member connected to the drive channel such that axial translation of the drive channel results in axial translation of the rack member, the rack member defining a first set of teeth along a first side thereof and a second set of teeth along a second side thereof; a first pawl and a second pawl each tiltably supported in the housing and disposed on respective opposed sides of the rack member; and a buckling spring interposed between the first pawl and the second pawl and constrained in a slot formed in the rack member, wherein the buckling spring is dimensioned so as to bow in one of a proximal direction and a distal direction by a proximal or distal end of the slot; wherein, when the buckling spring is bowed in the proximal direction, the first pawl and the second pawl are engaged with the rack member in an orientation so as to permit the drive channel to move in a distal direction; and wherein, when the buckling spring is bowed in the distal direction, the first pawl and the second pawl are engaged with the rack member in a reverse or different orientation so as to permit the drive channel to move in a proximal direction.