Abstract: A manually operated surgical staple extractor comprising a pliers-like tool having first and second handle elements pivotally joined together and swingable between open and closed positions. The first handle element terminates at its forward end in a pair of elongated anvils in parallel spaced relationship. The forward ends of the anvils are angled toward each with their front-most tips substantially contiguous. The rearward ends of said anvils are provided with aligned notches, the first handle element providing a steep upwardly and rearwardly sloping surface adjacent each of the notches. The second handle element is operatively connected to a thin blade means shorter than the anvils. When the first and second handle elements are in their open position, the lower edge of the blade means lies above the anvils. When the handle elements are shifted to their closed position, the blade is pivoted downwardly such that its lower edge passes between the anvils to a position therebelow.