A surgical sagittal saw blade cartridge , said cartridge comprising: a guide bar consisting of two outer plates and an inner plate located between the outer plates, the inner plate having a head located proximally rearward of distal ends of the outer plates; a blade having a web disposed between the outer plates and against the head of the inner plate; and a head of the blade located forward of the web, the head of the blade formed with teeth the teeth having a sufficient thickness to form a kerf able to receive the guide bar; and at least one drive link moveably disposed between the outer plates, the at least one drive link having opposed proximal and distal ends, the proximal end adapted to be attached to a drive element of a saw and the distal end being connected to the web of the blade so that the reciprocation of the at least one drive link results in the pivoting of the blade around the head of the inner plate of the guide bar, characterized in that : the inner plate is formed to have an inner tine and opposed outer tines located on opposed sides of said inner tine; and wherein said inner tine is formed to define the head against which the web of the blade is seated; and said outer tines extend forward of the head so that the web of the blade is disposed in a space between said outer tines; and the at least one said drive link is disposed in a space between said inner tine and one of said outer tines. a guide bar consisting of two outer plates and an inner plate located between the outer plates, the inner plate having a head located proximally rearward of distal ends of the outer plates; a blade having a web disposed between the outer plates and against the head of the inner plate; and a head of the blade located forward of the web, the head of the blade formed with teeth the teeth having a sufficient thickness to form a kerf able to receive the guide bar; and at least one drive link moveably disposed between the outer plates, the at least one drive link having opposed proximal and distal ends, the proximal end adapted to be attached to a drive element of a saw and the distal end being connected to the web of the blade so that the reciprocation of the at least one drive link results in the pivoting of the blade around the head of the inner plate of the guide bar, characterized in that : the inner plate is formed to have an inner tine and opposed outer tines located on opposed sides of said inner tine; and wherein said inner tine is formed to define the head against which the web of the blade is seated; and said outer tines extend forward of the head so that the web of the blade is disposed in a space between said outer tines; and the at least one said drive link is disposed in a space between said inner tine and one of said outer tines. the inner plate is formed to have an inner tine and opposed outer tines located on opposed sides of said inner tine; and wherein said inner tine is formed to define the head against which the web of the blade is seated; and said outer tines extend forward of the head so that the web of the blade is disposed in a space between said outer tines; and the at least one said drive link is disposed in a space between said inner tine and one of said outer tines. <EOS>