A surgical stapling device (10) having an indicator mechanism that is movable between first, second and third positions. The first position of the indicator (26) indicates to a clinician that the jaws of the surgical stapling device (10) have yet to be approximated. The second position of the indicator (26) indicates to a clinician that the jaws of the surgical stapling device (10) are approximated. The third position of the indicator (26) indicates to a clinician that the surgical stapling device (10) has been fired and is depleted of staples.