Patent ID: 8205342

Claim:
A reciprocating saw, comprising: a first end; a working end opposite the first end; a housing extending between the first end and the working end; a reciprocating shaft supported within the housing, the reciprocating shaft extending between the first end and the working end of the saw and having a longitudinal axis; and a locking mechanism supported by the housing at the working end of the saw, the locking mechanism selectively moveable between a first position and a second position; wherein when the locking mechanism is in the first position the reciprocating shaft is configured to substantially reciprocate relative to the housing but remain substantially rotationally fixed relative to the longitudinal axis of the reciprocating shaft; and wherein when the locking mechanism is in the second position the reciprocating shaft is configured to substantially reciprocate relative to the housing and at the same time substantially rotate about the longitudinal axis of the reciprocating shaft independent of the housing.