A surgical apparatus (10) includes a handle assembly (100), an elongated body portion (14) defining a first longitudinal axis (14a-14b), a tool assembly (17) pivotally supported on the distal end of the elongated body portion to form a pivot axis, and a flexible drive assembly (212) that includes a flexible drive member (266) extending from a position proximal of the pivot axis to a position distal of the pivot axis. The drive member has a distal end (266b) which is movable in relation to the tool assembly and a gear drive assembly (355) to enable movement of the distal end of the flexible drive member. The flexible drive assembly includes a flexible knife drive beam that advances or retracts via a primary drive gear meshing with the flexible knife drive beam to effect movement of the flexible drive member.
