A reciprocating saw includes a housing defining a motor housing portion, and a motor positioned in the motor housing portion, the motor having a motor output shaft defining a rotational axis, and a motor activation switch within the motor housing portion and adjacent the motor. The reciprocating saw also includes a transmission is positioned downstream of the motor and has a sawbar connectable to a saw blade. The transmission converts a rotational input provided by the motor shaft to a reciprocating output of the sawbar along a reciprocating axis that is either coaxial or parallel with the rotational axis.