Reciprocating saw

A reciprocating saw comprising:

• a housing;
• a motor positioned within the housing, the motor including a pinion that rotates about a motor axis;
• and
• a drive mechanism positioned within the housing and coupled to the motor, the drive mechanism including
• a driven gear engaging the pinion and rotatable by the motor in a rotational direction about a central axis that is perpendicular to the motor axis, the driven gear having a circumference and being vertically-oriented within the housing, wherein the motor axis extends through a center of the driven gear to divide the driven gear into an upper portion and a lower portion,
• a connecting rod having a first end coupled to the driven gear and a second end opposite the first end, the connecting rod translating rotary motion of the driven gear into reciprocating motion,
• an output shaft coupled to the second end of the connecting rod to reciprocate relative to the housing along a spindle axis through a cutting stroke and a return stroke, the upper portion of the driven gear is located on a same side of the motor axis as the spindle axis,
• a blade clamp coupled to an end of the output shaft opposite from the connecting rod, the blade clamp configured to receive a saw blade, and
• a counterweight coupled to the driven gear and rotating with the driven gear in the rotational direction, the counterweight having a connection portion coupled to the first end of the connecting rod and a mass portion extending from the connection portion, the mass portion defining a curved outer perimeter matching the circumference of the driven gear, the curved outer perimeter extending less than half the circumference of the driven gear, the mass portion having a leading edge, a trailing edge, and an aperture positioned closer to the trailing edge than to the leading edge in the rotational direction, the counterweight moving through the upper portion of the driven gear during the cutting stroke of the output shaft, and moving through the lower portion of the driven gear during the return stroke of the output shaft;
• wherein the motor axis and the spindle axis define a plane, and wherein the central axis of the driven gear is perpendicular to the plane.