A surgical instrument (500) including a handle portion (510), a body portion (512), a movable handle, a tool assembly (17), a drive beam and a closure apparatus (800') is disclosed. At least one of the closure apparatus and a contact surface of the tool assembly include a plastic surface. The body portion extends distally from the handle portion. The movable handle is located on the handle portion and is in mechanical cooperation with a drive member. The tool assembly includes an anvil (20), a cartridge assembly (18) and a contact surface. The drive beam includes a proximal engagement portion and is configured to engage a portion of the drive member. The closure apparatus is configured to engage the contact surface of the tool assembly. At least a partial actuation of the movable handle moves the closure apparatus distally into engagement with the contact surface to approximate the anvil and the cartridge assembly. Manufacturing the closure apparatus comprises drilling a hole (822') through one of its flanges (802',804') and injecting a material (812') having a low coefficient of friction through the hole using injection molding process to cover at least a portion of an internal surface of the flange.
