A portable, combustion engine powered cutting or sawing machine comprises a rear part (1) with a motor housing (3) with a combustion engine (4), an engine block (5) with a crank house, and a front part (2) with an annular blade (30) and a blade holder (31). The blade is provided in/or adjacent to a center blade (37) of the machine. The engine block forms a central body in the machine, including portions of said body on both sides of said center plane, and the blade holder comprises a blade holder chassis (35), which is provided substantially on a first side of said center plane. The blade holder chassis is fixedly connected on one hand with the portion of the engine block, which is located on said first side of the center blade, and on the other hand with a portion which is located on a second, opposite side of the center plane.