Abstract: A drill powered reciprocating saw including a safety gear assembly which disengages the saw's drive mechanism should the operator lose his or her grip on the saw housing. The gear assembly includes a motor drive shaft that is connected to an electric drill and which drives a jackshaft by means of a pair of interlocking gears. At rest, the drive shaft is biased by a spring to a position where the gears are not in contact with each other. When the operator pulls the saw housing toward the drill, the spring is compressed and the gears are engaged, thus allowing the saw to operate. Should the operator lose his or her grip on the housing, the spring biases the drive shaft back to its original position, thereby disengaging the gears.