A surgical stapler comprising: an elongate shaft having a proximal end and a distal end and defining a longitudinal axis between the proximal end and the distal end; an actuation mechanism comprising an actuation beam extending through at least a portion of the elongate shaft, the actuation beam further comprising a first guide and a second guide thereon; a jaw assembly disposed at the distal end of the elongate shaft, the jaw assembly comprising: a first jaw defining a first clamping surface, the first jaw comprising a first guide slot extending longitudinally therein; a second jaw defining a second clamping surface, the second jaw comprising a second guide slot extending longitudinally therein; a link comprising a third guide thereon; and a plurality of staples; wherein the jaw assembly is actuatable by longitudinal movement of the actuation beam between a closed position in which the first clamping surface is positioned adjacent the second clamping surface, an open position in which the second clamping surface extends at an angle transverse to the first clamping surface, and a stapling position in which the first clamping surface extends parallel to the second clamping surface and is spaced apart from the second clamping surface; characterized in that the actuation beam comprises a third guide slot formed therein, and the first guide is slideable in the first guide slot, the second guide is slidable in the second guide slot, and the third guide of the link is slideably engaged in the third guide slot to actuate the jaw assembly. an elongate shaft having a proximal end and a distal end and defining a longitudinal axis between the proximal end and the distal end; an actuation mechanism comprising an actuation beam extending through at least a portion of the elongate shaft, the actuation beam further comprising a first guide and a second guide thereon; a jaw assembly disposed at the distal end of the elongate shaft, the jaw assembly comprising: a first jaw defining a first clamping surface, the first jaw comprising a first guide slot extending longitudinally therein; a second jaw defining a second clamping surface, the second jaw comprising a second guide slot extending longitudinally therein; a link comprising a third guide thereon; and a plurality of staples; a first jaw defining a first clamping surface, the first jaw comprising a first guide slot extending longitudinally therein; a second jaw defining a second clamping surface, the second jaw comprising a second guide slot extending longitudinally therein; a link comprising a third guide thereon; and a plurality of staples; wherein the jaw assembly is actuatable by longitudinal movement of the actuation beam between a closed position in which the first clamping surface is positioned adjacent the second clamping surface, an open position in which the second clamping surface extends at an angle transverse to the first clamping surface, and a stapling position in which the first clamping surface extends parallel to the second clamping surface and is spaced apart from the second clamping surface; characterized in that the actuation beam comprises a third guide slot formed therein, and the first guide is slideable in the first guide slot, the second guide is slidable in the second guide slot, and the third guide of the link is slideably engaged in the third guide slot to actuate the jaw assembly.