The present disclosure relates to a surgical fastener applying apparatus comprising: an anvil half-section including a distal anvil portion and a proximal handle portion a cartridge receiving half section defining an elongated channel member and including at least one hinge member (173, 1194) supported on a bottom wall of the elongated channel member, the elongated channel member having a distal portion dimensioned to releasably receive a single use loading unit and a proximal portion configured to support a firing assembly, and wherein the at least one hinge member defines an opening and a clamping lever (16)pivotally secured to the cartridge receiving half- section, the clamping lever having a proximal end, a distal end and a pivot member (187, 1187) supported in cantilevered fashion on the distal end of the clamping lever the pivot member of the clamping lever being slidably received within the opening of the at least one hinge member to pivotally secure the clamping lever to the cartridge receiving half-section, the clamping lever being movable from an undamped position to a clamped position to releasably secure the anvil portion of the anvil half-section in close approximation with the single use loading unit supported within the elongated channel member.
