Abstract: A power stapler which includes a housing, a staple anvil supported by the internal side wall, a staple carriage for feeding an associated cartridge of staples having a plurality of staples in aligned side-by-side relationship towards the staple anvil to position one of the staples in the cartridge above the staple anvil in position to be driven through a plurality of associated sheets held above the staple anvil and a punch plate mounted for sliding movement substantially in a plane that is substantially perpendicular to the staple anvil.