A method is used to manufacture an anvil (10) of a surgical circular stapler (100). The anvil includes a head (12) and a shank (18) extending proximally from the head. The method includes forming the head of a surgical circular stapler using a metal injection molding process. The method also includes forming an annular array of staple forming pockets (24) in the head. The method also includes machining the shank of the surgical circular stapler. The method also includes coupling together the head and the shank of the surgical circular stapler that were separately manufactured.
