Abstract: A power rotary hand saw (10) with a blade guard 36 mounted for powered movement between a guarding position (FIG. 1) and a nonguarding position (FIG. 2) is moved to the guarding position (FIG. 1) by a separate dedicated electrical motor (46) rotating a drive gear (42) linked with an elongate set of gear teeth (40) and returned when electrical power to the guard drive motor (46) is reversed by a guard control switch (49) separate and apart from a blade drive motor control trigger switch (34). Alternatively, power to the guard drive motor (46) is removed and a coil bias spring (52) return the guard (36) to the guarding position (FIG. 1). The guard driving mechanism (42, 44, 46) is mounted for movement between a drive position (FIG. 1) in which the drive mechanism is linked to the set of gear teeth (40) and a nondrive position in which the drive gear (42) is spaced from linkage with the set of gear teeth (40) and is disabled from responding to actuation of the guard drive power control switch (49).