A surgical stapler (10) is provided having a pair of jaws (16) including a staple containing cartridge (22) and an anvil (20). Buttress material (24) to prevent tearing of fragile tissue is releasably affixed to the staple containing cartridge and the anvil. One of the jaws includes a pair of longitudinal projections (50,52；124,126) at a first end of the jaw and configured to frictionally engage corresponding slots (62,64；134,136) in a first end of the buttress material. One of the jaws includes a post (76；116) at a second end of the jaw. The buttress material includes a hole (80,120) in a second end of the buttress material for receipt of the post.
