A surgical sagittal saw cartridge that includes a guide bar formed form an inner plate and opposed outer plates, the inner plate having a head. The cartridge has a blade that is disposed against the head of the inner plate. The inner plate is formed to have an inner tine and two opposed outer tines. The inner tine is formed to define the head against which the blade is disposed. The outer tines extend forward of the inner tine so as to define a space between the outer tines in which the blade is seated.