In order to improve a sliding shaft for a surgical sliding shaft instrument, wherein the sliding shaft defines a longitudinal direction and comprises a first shaft part and a second shaft part which are arranged such that they are displaceable relative to each other, wherein said first shaft part carries a first tool element and said second shaft part carries a second tool element, wherein the second shaft part has a cut material collector with an inlet opening which is bounded by the second tool part and extends therefrom in the proximal direction, such that the cut material collector can be emptied in a simple and rapid manner, it is proposed that the cut material collector should have at least one emptying opening which is formed on the proximal side of the inlet opening and that the at least one emptying opening should be open in a lateral emptying direction which is oriented perpendicularly or substantially perpendicularly with respect to the longitudinal direction and parallel or substantially parallel to a contact plane defined by a lower surface of the second shaft part.
