A guide bar for a saw chain includes an elongate, flat base body made of a basic material. The base body extends along a longitudinal center axis and, in order to guide a saw chain, has a running surface formed on an outer periphery thereof and a guide groove formed in the outer periphery of the base body. The guide groove has a groove base. A direction-reversing section for the saw chain is provided at one end of the base body. The direction-reversing section includes at least one add-on component having a running surface made of more wear-resistant material than the basic material of the base body. The add-on component is secured to the base body of the guide bar by at least one weld seam. The weld seam extends between the add-on component and the base body and is located spatially beneath the groove base.