Embodiments of a power miter saw of the type which has an upper fixed blade guard for encasing upper reaches of an installed saw blade without encasing the blade arbor, and a lower swinging blade guard for covering the lower reaches of an installed blade when saw is in its rest position and for exposing the saw blade when moved to its operational position, the saw comprising an elongated linkage mechanism having opposite end portions interconnecting a frame support and the lower blade guard for moving the lower blade guard in response to movement of the saw between the rest and operational positions, such that the lower blade guard covers the lower reaches of the blade when the saw is in its rest position and uncovers the lower reaches of the blade when the saw is moved to its operational position, the linkage mechanism being configured to be selectively detachable from the frame support, thereby enabling the lower blade guard to be placed in at least first and second positions wherein the first position enables normal movement of the saw between its rest and operational positions, and the second position wherein the lower blade guard is raised to expose a blade arbor to facilitate changing of the blade.