Surgical forceps are provided having an elongated shaft which at its distal end bears a forceps jaw having two jaw parts which are movable relative to one another, and at its proximal end bears an actuating handle which by means of a longitudinally displaceable actuating rod that passes through the shaft controls the relative motion of the jaw parts via the engagement of at least one cam on the forceps jaw or on the actuating rod in a groove which is inclined at an angle with respect to the direction of displacement of the actuating rod on the shaft or on the forceps jaw. The groove is provided, at least in one section, with an angle of inclination which is smaller than the angle of inclination up to which self-locking in the groove occurs.
