A chain tensioner blade assembly comprising: a shoe comprising a first end, a second end, and a central portion that extends between the first end and the second end, said central portion comprising: (i) an outer surface adapted for being slidably engaged by an associated chain; and, (ii) an inner surface located on an opposite side of said central portion relative to said outer surface; a pivot bore defined in the first end of the shoe; said first end of said shoe comprising a first spring-receiving slot and said second end of said shoe comprising a second spring-receiving slot; said first spring-receiving slot, said second spring-receiving slot, and said inner surface of said shoe providing a spring-receiving region; said first spring-receiving slot comprising: (i) a first lower wall that is spaced from and faces the inner surface of said shoe central portion; (ii) a first outer wall located adjacent a front face of the shoe and connected to said first lower wall; said second spring-receiving slot comprising: (i) a second lower wall that is spaced from and faces the inner surface of said shoe central portion; (ii) a second outer wall located adjacent said front face of the shoe and connected to said second lower wall; a spring located in the spring-receiving region, said spring comprising: (i) a first end located in the first spring-receiving slot; (ii) a second end located in the second spring-receiving slot; and, (iii) a central portion in contact with said inner surface of said shoe central portion; characterised by: said first spring-receiving slot further comprising a first locking tab located adjacent a rear face of the shoe and connected to said first lower wall, said first locking tab extending only partially toward and spaced from said inner surface of said shoe central portion; said second spring-receiving slot further comprising a second locking tab located adjacent said rear face of the shoe and connected to said second lower wall, said second locking tab extending only partially toward and spaced from said inner surface of said shoe central portion, and said first end of the spring being located between the first outer wall and the first locking tab, and said second end of the spring being located between the second outer wall and the second locking tab. a shoe comprising a first end, a second end, and a central portion that extends between the first end and the second end, said central portion comprising: (i) an outer surface adapted for being slidably engaged by an associated chain; and, (ii) an inner surface located on an opposite side of said central portion relative to said outer surface; a pivot bore defined in the first end of the shoe; said first end of said shoe comprising a first spring-receiving slot and said second end of said shoe comprising a second spring-receiving slot; said first spring-receiving slot, said second spring-receiving slot, and said inner surface of said shoe providing a spring-receiving region; said first spring-receiving slot comprising: (i) a first lower wall that is spaced from and faces the inner surface of said shoe central portion; (ii) a first outer wall located adjacent a front face of the shoe and connected to said first lower wall; said second spring-receiving slot comprising: (i) a second lower wall that is spaced from and faces the inner surface of said shoe central portion; (ii) a second outer wall located adjacent said front face of the shoe and connected to said second lower wall; a spring located in the spring-receiving region, said spring comprising: (i) a first end located in the first spring-receiving slot; (ii) a second end located in the second spring-receiving slot; and, (iii) a central portion in contact with said inner surface of said shoe central portion; characterised by: said first spring-receiving slot further comprising a first locking tab located adjacent a rear face of the shoe and connected to said first lower wall, said first locking tab extending only partially toward and spaced from said inner surface of said shoe central portion; said second spring-receiving slot further comprising a second locking tab located adjacent said rear face of the shoe and connected to said second lower wall, said second locking tab extending only partially toward and spaced from said inner surface of said shoe central portion, and said first end of the spring being located between the first outer wall and the first locking tab, and said second end of the spring being located between the second outer wall and the second locking tab. said first spring-receiving slot further comprising a first locking tab located adjacent a rear face of the shoe and connected to said first lower wall, said first locking tab extending only partially toward and spaced from said inner surface of said shoe central portion; said second spring-receiving slot further comprising a second locking tab located adjacent said rear face of the shoe and connected to said second lower wall, said second locking tab extending only partially toward and spaced from said inner surface of said shoe central portion, and said first end of the spring being located between the first outer wall and the first locking tab, and said second end of the spring being located between the second outer wall and the second locking tab.