A circular saw blade includes a circular plate having a diameter, a thickness, a left face, a right face, a peripheral rim, and a central opening. A plurality of alternating teeth and gullets are disposed about the peripheral rim, each tooth having a front face facing generally toward an adjacent gullet in the cutting direction and a recess defined in the front face. A plurality of cutting inserts are affixed in the recesses in the teeth. Each insert has rake face facing generally toward the adjacent gullet in the cutting direction, a relief face extending generally toward the adjacent top face, and a cutting edge at a junction between the relief face and the rake face. Each rake face is disposed at a hook angle. The relief faces include unbeveled relief faces, left-beveled relief faces, and a right-beveled relief faces arranged in an alternating top bevel with raker pattern.