A surgical instrument that includes a first jaw that has a pair of laterally aligned vertical slots formed in a proximal end portion thereof. Each vertical slot includes an open upper end. A second jaw is movably supported for selective pivotal travel relative to the first jaw between a fully open and a fully closed position. Pivot members protrude laterally from the second jaw and are each received in a corresponding one of the vertical slots in the first jaw such that the pivot members may pivot therein. A retainer member is configured to operably engage the proximal end portion of the first jaw and retain the pivot members in the corresponding vertical slots as the second jaw moves between the fully open and the fully closed positions.
