A double-pole, reversing switch adapted to be mounted in the handle of a portable electric tool. The switch includes a trigger type pushbutton on-off switch and a slide button reversing switch electrically connectable for reversing shunt or series motors and mounted in a unitary housing, and having an external interlock preventing operation of the slide button while the trigger is depressed. The on-off switch is provided with double-pole butt contacts that have a controlled amount of wipe, very low bounce, are non-teasable, and have maximum contact pressure at the point of tripping open. The trigger has a considerable amount of movement between trip ''''on'''' and trip ''''off'''' positions. The slide button reversing switch is provided with spring biased ''''ball-bearing'''' movable contacts operating with snap-action to engage converging flat surfaces of pairs of stationary contacts.