Abstract: The invention relates to anvil shears for surgical purposes, particularly for laparoscopic operations. The shears have an anvil (10) and a blade (40) pivotably fitted thereto, which is closed against the anvil by means of an operating rod (30) displaceable in the longitudinal direction of the shears. For improving the cutting action, according to the invention the blade (40) is displaceably mounted on the anvil in its longitudinal direction (41) and is subject to the action of a force forcing the blade into the distal advanced position. The force exerted for closing the blade (40) with the operating rod (30) is opposed by the pretensioning force (54), so that on encountering a material to be cut a cutting movement is performed in the longitudinal direction (41) of the blade.