A handheld circular saw incorporating an improved rip guide is illustrated which guarantees accurate cuts in the ripping of sheet workpieces. The guide is precisely clamped to the upper surface of a foot assembly of the circular saw. A guide member is slidably movable along the longitudinal length of a bar section of the guide and securely locked in a desired position where it assures that a workpiece can be cut to a precise width desired, as a result of the accuracy of alignment of a flat surface of the guide member which is precisely parallel to the plane of the circular saw blade, that is then moved flush along an edge of the workpiece being ripped.