Surgical fastener applying apparatus

A surgical fastener applying apparatus, comprising:

• a cartridge half-section including a pair of upstanding juxtaposed plates extending from an upper surface thereof, wherein the pair of upstanding juxtaposed plates are located near a proximal end thereof, and wherein each plate defines a channel formed therein;
• and
• an anvil half-section selectively matable with the cartridge half-section, the anvil half-section including a non-circular pin configured to selectively engage the channel formed in the pair of upstanding juxtaposed plates, wherein said cartridge and anvil half-sections are relatively movable from an unmated position to a mated position with one another via said non-circular pin engaging with the channel of the pair of upstanding juxtaposed plates and which non-circular pin defines an angle at which the cartridge half-section and the anvil half-section are properly mateable with one another from a position where they are separate and not in contact.