Abstract: A chain saw bar having an elongated shape, a saw chain guideway around substantially the length of the perimeter thereof, with a matching saw chain sprocket in the nose thereof, and calculated points of variation in strength in the interior of the bar at points removed from the sprocket, the points of variation in strength acting so that if the bar is subjected to an excessive bending force, the bar will tend to become bent initially at one point of variation in strength and with increased bending force at a subsequent point of variation in strength. In this way, extreme bending of the bar at one location and pinching of the sprocket are minimized.