A brake control assembly for a chain saw has an operating lever provided with a hub portion alongside a housing of the saw and a guard portion adjacent a handle carried by the housing. The hub portion is pivotally mounted on the housing allowing the lever to be moved fore and aft. A brake drum associated with the drive-transmitting mechanism of the saw is engaged by a brake band when the lever is swung to a brake-on position. The pivotal connection for the hub portion also supports an actuating plate for rocking movement independently of the hub portion. There is a drive connection between the operating lever and the actuating plate which rocks the plate on the pivotal connection when the lever is moved fore and aft. A torsion spring tends to rock the actuating plate in one direction and urge the brake band into braking engagement with the drum. The housing is fitted with a resilient latch which engages the cam finger to hold the brake band out of braking engagement with the drum. The brake arrangement operates automatically when the lever is knocked forwardly and is reset in a normal brake-off position when the lever is pulled towards the rear of the housing.
