A pistol-type surgical instrument for applying ligating clips to blood vessels and other tubular ducts in remote locations which are substantially inaccessible to conventional forceps-type appliers. Tubular jaw assemblies of various lengths may be mounted on the pistol-grip handle of the instrument, and the mounted jaw assembly is fully rotatable to permit orientation of the clip applying jaws. The jaws are preferably at right angles to the axis of the tubular jaw assembly, but may be slanted forward or rearward up to about 20 degrees.