An end effector assembly for an endoscopic instrument includes first and second end effectors, a screw and optionally a washer. The end effectors have arms which are biased away from each other. The screw has a threaded portion dimensioned to engage the distal end of the endoscopic instrument and a head portion with a pair of arm receiving grooves. In a presently preferred embodiment, the washer extends over arms of the end effectors which pass through grooves in the head of the screw. In this manner, the arms of the end effectors are captured between the screw and the washer. The grooves are preferably provided with upstanding pins which engage mounting holes in the arms of the end effectors.