Stapler with longitudinal opening along one side of pivot

An operator energised stapler 2 comprises a first arm 4, a second arm 6, a pivot 8, a stapling head 10, and feed means 14 for feeding staples 13 to the stapling head. The stapler has a longitudinal opening 16 along one side of the pivot, which receives sheets 12 to be stapled together. The sheets can extend in a sideways direction 18 in the opening beyond the stapling head, whereby the sheets are able to be stapled together with staples which are positioned inwardly of a leading edge 20 of the sheets in the opening and with the staples extending longitudinally along a fold line 22 which extends at right angles to the leading edge, the stapled sheets then being foldable along the fold line after stapling. Preferably, magnetic feed means are provided, which comprises first and second magnets on the respective first and second arms, the first and second magnets being of opposed polarity in order to repel the arms away from each other after stapling.