100 is to maintain the alignment of anvil 102 underneath striker 80 which when contained inside body 10 travels in an arc around pivot 90 in fig2 striker 80 is aligned vertically in front of anvil 102 that is not important at this moment however since the stapling operation does not occur in this highest body position indeed the highest body position advantageously serves to facilitate inserting a stack of papers to be stapled in fig6 the stapler body is in the highest position in which stapling actually will occur using the largest expected stack of papers at this position striker 80 is precisely or much more precisely than in conventional staplers aligned over anvil 102 i e in the fore aft direction as body 10 pivots farther toward base 20 the bottom of striker 80 moves rearward along base 20 this is a result of the high position of pivot 90 and the arcing motion that results therefrom beginning at the downward progressing position shown in fig6 pressing surface 13 makes contact with rib 112 of cover plate 100 and begins to urge cover plate 100 with anvil 102 rearward pressing surface 13 is near the same vertical position as the bottom of striker 80 and anvil 102 therefore rib 112 preferably moves rearward the same distance as the bottom of striker 80 as seen in fig7 the bottom of striker 80 remains fairly precisely aligned with anvil 102 as seen in fig3 and 5 pressing surface 13 preferably has a blade shape and extends downward and.