A surgical saw blade (52, 52a, 52b, 702) comprising: an elongated blade bar (494, 494a, 494b), the blade bar having opposed proximal and distal sections, a longitudinal center axis that extends between the proximal and distal sections, the proximal section having a proximal end face of the blade bar and a feature (516, 538) for releasably holding the blade bar to a powered surgical sagittal saw, the distal section being formed with a void space and a primary opening into the void space, wherein the proximal section has opposed side edges that extend forward from the blade bar proximal end face, wherein said side edges taper outwardly relative to the longitudinal center axis of the blade bar such that, when coupled to the powered surgical sagittal saw, the side edges seat against brackets of a head of the saw so that the blade bar is tightly held against the brackets so that side movement of the blade relative to the saw is locked out; a blade head (76, 76a), the blade head having: a base (496, 496a) disposed in the blade bar distal section void space that is pivotally mounted in the blade bar distal section void space; and a crown integral with the base that extends through and outside of the blade bar distal section primary opening, the crown being formed with teeth (499, 499a), wherein a thickness of the crown is greater than the thickness of the base to allow the insertion of the blade bar (494, 494a, 494b) into a kerf cut by the blade head (76, 76a); and at least one drive rod (74, 74a) that has a distal end moveably attached to the blade head base and a proximal end adjacent blade bar proximal section, the proximal end adapted to be attached to a drive member integral with the surgical sagittal saw; characterized in that: the blade bar (494, 494a, 494b) is further formed so that: forward of the blade bar proximal section having the outwardly tapered side edge the blade bar is formed so that the distal section has a constant width. an elongated blade bar (494, 494a, 494b), the blade bar having opposed proximal and distal sections, a longitudinal center axis that extends between the proximal and distal sections, the proximal section having a proximal end face of the blade bar and a feature (516, 538) for releasably holding the blade bar to a powered surgical sagittal saw, the distal section being formed with a void space and a primary opening into the void space, wherein the proximal section has opposed side edges that extend forward from the blade bar proximal end face, wherein said side edges taper outwardly relative to the longitudinal center axis of the blade bar such that, when coupled to the powered surgical sagittal saw, the side edges seat against brackets of a head of the saw so that the blade bar is tightly held against the brackets so that side movement of the blade relative to the saw is locked out; a blade head (76, 76a), the blade head having: a base (496, 496a) disposed in the blade bar distal section void space that is pivotally mounted in the blade bar distal section void space; and a crown integral with the base that extends through and outside of the blade bar distal section primary opening, the crown being formed with teeth (499, 499a), wherein a thickness of the crown is greater than the thickness of the base to allow the insertion of the blade bar (494, 494a, 494b) into a kerf cut by the blade head (76, 76a); and at least one drive rod (74, 74a) that has a distal end moveably attached to the blade head base and a proximal end adjacent blade bar proximal section, the proximal end adapted to be attached to a drive member integral with the surgical sagittal saw; characterized in that: the blade bar (494, 494a, 494b) is further formed so that: forward of the blade bar proximal section having the outwardly tapered side edge the blade bar is formed so that the distal section has a constant width.