or both elongated connecting blades 14 34 the reed 1 and in particular the upper u channel 4 and the reed dents 2 shall be prevented from oscillating in the longitudinal direction a during weaving operation the connecting blades 14 and or 34 absorb both tensile and compressive forces which prevent a displacement of the upper u channel 4 toward the filling insertion side and in the opposite direction the connecting blades 14 and 34 are dimensioned in such manner that they shall be strong enough not to bend when subjected to compression calculation shows that a connecting blade 14 or 34 about 2 mm thick and about 15 mm high is adequately resistant to bending when forces that arise at a weaving rate of 1 200 filling insertions a minute and with as many corresponding beatups the elongated connecting blades 14 and or 34 at worst will slightly degrade the displacement in the transverse direction b of the end zone 6 of the reed 1 in the vicinity of the main airjet nozzles 21 22 and or of the end zone 38 of the reed 1 in the vicinity of the filling detector 36 or the stretcher 37 the displaceability of the reed 1 in these zones 6 and 38 is not restricted with respect to the.