A latch assembly for a surgical instrument includes a lever having a distal engagement section, an intermediate section, and a proximal manipulatable section. The proximal manipulatable section includes an exterior surface including lateral sides, a side wall depending from the exterior surface along the lateral sides of the exterior surface and about a proximal end of the exterior surface, a lip extending from the side wall to define a shelf extending outwardly from the side wall along the lateral sides of the exterior surface and about the proximal end of the exterior surface, and a proximal stop disposed on the shelf at the proximal end of the exterior surface and extending towards the exterior surface.
