Abstract: A surgical stapler having a jaw including spaced apart front and rear legs rigidly interconnected by a cross leg at one end and having opposite free ends. An anvil is mounted on the front leg. A movable frame is located between the front and rear legs and carries a staple cartridge assembly. The position of the movable frame determines the gap between the staple cartridge assembly and the anvil for receiving tissue. A pusher member ejects staples from the staple cartridge assembly to staple tissue located in the gap. A C-clamp is detachably connected to the free ends of the front and rear legs of the jaw for maintaining alignment of the front and rear legs during the stapling operation.