A reciprocating exhaust valve for a two-stroke internal combustion engine has a shaft for connection to a valve actuator, the shaft defining a reciprocation axis of the valve, the reciprocation axis defining a longitudinal direction of the valve; and a blade having: a first end having an arcuate edge, a second end connected to the shaft, two side portions, and a central portion. The blade has a first end portion adjacent the first end that includes a part of the central portion and of each of the two side portions. A width of the central portion is greater than a width of each of the side portions. In the first end portion, a thickness of the part of each of the two side portions is greater than a thickness of the part of the central portion.