An electric jigsaw (1) includes a main housing (2) containing a gear housing (10), a reciprocating rod (11) vertically projecting from within the gear housing, a saw blade (13) coupled to the rod via a coupling ring (12), and a transparent synthetic resin guard (14) provided at the lower front end of the main housing and the gear housing (10). The transparent guard includes a vertical optical path therethrough and is attached to the gear housing in such a manner as to be horizontally rotatable between a protective position for covering the coupling ring and an open position for exposing the coupling ring. Additionally included in the jigsaw is an insulating cover (15) assembled to the gear housing (10) within the main housing (2) and a downward oriented light-emitting diode (19) disposed at the bottom end of the insulating cover (15) directly above the transparent guard (14) when the guard is in its protective position. The light from the LED is transmitted through the front guard along the optical path, illuminating a workpiece (W) immediately forward of the blade without significant scattering or diffusion.