A surgical clamp is disclosed. The surgical clamp comprises a two-piece body comprising a top jaw housing that inter-fits with a bottom jaw housing； the top jaw housing comprising a top jaw； the bottom jaw housing comprising a bottom jaw； the inter-fitting top jaw housing and bottom jaw housing disposed for movement relative to one another； a bias to the top jaw housing and bottom jaw housing apart； and a lever moveable between a lock position and an open position and the lever disposed to prevent opening movement of the top jaw housing relative to the bottom jaw housing and to allow graduated relative closing movement of the top jaw housing relative to the bottom jaw housing in the lock position and to allow opening and closing movement of the top jaw housing relative to the bottom jaw housing in the open position. The structure of the clamp is such that compressive force applied to one or more of the top jaw housing and the bottom jaw housing causes graduated closing movement of the top jaw housing and the bottom jaw housing to close the top jaw and the bottom jaw. The lever may comprise an axial arm and a lateral arm wherein the axial arm comprises one or more tooth or pawl disposed at a distal end of the axial arm and the lateral arm comprises a button disposed on a distal end of the lateral arm wherein pressing the button or the distal end pivots or moves the axial arm. The pivoting or movement may be oblique pivoting or movement and may disengage the one or more tooth from the rack.
