Abstract: A band saw machine includes a saw band for severing a workpiece in a cutting plane; a saw band support for swinging the saw band into the cutting plane before each sawing step; clamping jaws disposed downstream of the cutting plane as viewed in the feed direction for clamping the workpiece undergoing sawing; and feed jaws for advancing the workpiece toward the cutting plane. The feed jaws are openable after closing the clamping jaws and before ending a sawing step, shiftable from the cutting plane to an extent of a successive work piece feed and closable for moving the workpiece against the feed direction away from the cutting plane after the sawing step. An arrangement shifts the saw band support away from and perpendicularly to the cutting plane toward the workpiece held spaced from and upstream of the cutting plane prior to retracting the saw band from the cutting plane.