A rigid drive chain comprises a plurality of links connected end-to-end. The links have a block end including a pair of receptacles, a driving face and a driven face. The links have a connector end including a tongue. The block end and connector end are one-piece members that include a plurality of gear teeth along one side of both the block end and connector end. A plurality of protrusions or pins connect the tongues to the receptacles. The links are adapted to be pivoted by a driving gear between a driving orientation of the links with the driving face engaging the driven face of an adjacent link in a forward direction.