A surgical cutting and fastening instrument (10) is disclosed. According to various embodiments, the instrument includes an end effector (12) comprising a moveable cutting instrument, a main drive shaft assembly for actuating the cutting instrument in the end effector, and a handle (6) connected to the main drive shaft assembly. The handle comprises a pistol grip portion (26), a closure trigger (18), and a separate firing trigger (20). Retraction of the closure trigger toward the pistol grip portion causes the end effector to clamp an object positioned in the end effector and retraction of the firing trigger toward the pistol grip portion causes actuation of the main drive shaft assembly. The instrument also includes a closure trigger locking assembly for locking the closure trigger to the pistol grip portion when the closure trigger is retracted.
