A mechanism (60) is provided for crimping and releasing a suture securing a strip of buttress material (30) to an end effector. A retention component (36) is provided to maintain and secure the strip of buttress material (30) in contact with anvil face (34) of anvil member (28) prior to stapling tissue by the surgical stapling instrument comprising the end effector. The mechanism includes a retention member (80) movably mounted within the end effector. The retention member is movable from a first position crimping the suture to the end effector to a second position releasing the suture from the end effector. The mechanism additionally includes a follower member (96), engageable with the retention member, and movable in response to actuation of a surgical instrument to move the retention member between the first and second positions. A lock mechanism (92,94,70,72) is also provided to secure the retention member in the first position. The follower member (96) operates to disengage the lock mechanism.
