A surgical stapling device comprising:a handle assemblya body portion extending distally from the handle assemblya head portion including an anvil assembly and a shell assembly, the anvil assembly including an anvil head and an anvil center rod having a proximal end and a distal end and defining a longitudinal bore, the anvil head being supported on the distal end of the anvil center rod, the shell assembly supporting a plurality of staples, the anvil assembly being movable in relation to the shell assembly between spaced and approximated positions and an approximation mechanism including an anvil retainer for supporting the anvil assembly, the anvil retainer including an annular shoulder configured to engage the anvil center rod to fasten the anvil center rod to the anvil retainer, the anvil retainer further including an elongated distal extension positioned distally of the annular shoulder and dimensioned to be telescopingly received in the longitudinal bore of the anvil center rod,characterized in that the distal extension includes a distal end positioned substantially adjacent the distal end of the anvil center rod when the anvil center rod is engaged to the anvil retainer.
