A circular stapler is disclosed. The circular stapler comprises a handleassembly, anelongate body, and a cartridge assembly. The elongate body extends from thehandle assemblyand defines a longitudinal axis. The cartridge assembly is disposed adjacent adistal end of theelongate body. The cartridge assembly includes a pusher assembly and a knifeassembly. Thepusher assembly is movable to cause staples to be ejected from the cartridgeassembly. Theknife assembly is selectively movable relative to the pusher assembly todistally translate a knife.A knife carrier of the knife assembly includes at least one latch thereon. Theat least one latch isconfigured to contact an engagement surface of the pusher assembly in responseto movementbetween the knife carrier and the pusher assembly. The at least one latch isprevented fromdistally translating beyond the engagement surface.
