A surgical sliding shaft instrument (10) comprising a guide element (12), which is provided with a carriage (14). It further includes a grip part element (16), which is comprised of a stationary grip part (18), one end of which is provided with a grip trunk (20) pivotably linked to the guide element (12) and also releasably inter-locked with the guide element (12). It further includes a movable grip part (22), which is pivotally connected to the grip trunk (20) and, via a push part (24) extending through a slit in the grip trunk (20), is in operable engagement with the carriage (14). A compression spring (28) tensions or biases the movable grip part (22) in a rest position. An inter-locking element (26) serves for releasable connecting of the grip trunk (20) and guide element (12). The compression spring (28) is integrated in the carriage (14) and pretensions both the carriage (14) as well as the movable grip part (22) in a rest position.