A circular saw includes a base plate, a saw blade assembly pivotably mounted to the base plate, and a bevel adjustment assembly operable to adjust the bevel angle of the saw blade assembly by rotation of an axle supported on the base plate. A release mechanism includes two torsion springs each having a coil portion wound around the axle, an anchor leg held in a substantially fixed position relative to the axle and a release leg arranged to move relative to the axle. A manually operable release element is configured to substantially simultaneously move the release leg of each of the torsion springs in a direction to unwind the coil portion of each spring from about the axle.