A surgical instrument for stapling and cutting a blood vessel or other organic structure utilizes surgical staple clips. The surgical instrument includes an elongated tube or rod having a longitudinally movable rod disposed therein. A handle is mounted on the proximal end of the tube. The handle has a movable member which causes the movable rod to longitudinally shift positions in the tube. In one version, a pair of surgical staple clip-carrying jaw sets are pivotally mounted on a common lateral axis located at the distal end of the elongated tube. A scissor jaw set may also be included in the system. When the rod longitudinally moves with respect to the elongated tube or rod, the clip jaw sets clip the surgical staple clips onto the blood vessel or other organic structure. The handle for the surgical instrument includes a movable member coupled to a movable rod and a stationary grip member mounted to the elongated tube, within which moves the longitudinally movable rod. The movable handle member pivots towards and away from the stationary handle member. The movable member includes a tactile response surface which abuts a response wall on the stationary member. The surgical staple clip includes a clip face adapted to interface with the blood vessel or other organic structure.