A surgical stapler having a pivotable trigger in a housing and a cartridge of surgical staples, has a moving anvil which receives one staple at a time in its open configuration. A forming blade moves to engage and capture the staple between the forming blade and the anvil and drive the staple away from the cartridge allowing the user to see and place the points of the staple at a desired location on the tissue. Further movement of the forming blade pressing upon the top of the staple forces the staple legs to pierce and close joining adjacent edges of tissue. First and second stripper elements acting separately or in combination engage and urge the closed staple to separate from the anvil.