I WAS looking for a top handle saw for light ground work of limbing and trimming brush, vines, shrubs and small trees. However, thanks to the expertise on this site I have been steered clear of using a T handle for such work.
So I've been researching the lightest and nicest rear handle saw I can find. Planned use are same as above: brush thinning, branch cutting, ground work. I'd really like to stick with Stihl because...it's a STIHL. Never had one and this will hopefully be a one time, long term purchase. BTW I tend to be tough on equipment, even just as a home owner. I always put things away clean and tidy and very orderly. And I'll maintain the saw as per or better than manufacturer suggestions. I just tend to be rough when working and getting after it. Onto the saws:
I REALLY like the MS-201 C-EM for it's light weight and features. It has a metal bumper spike, metal chain catcher, and M tronic engine. Supposedly this model has been improved since the first 201's came out. Only problem is that the price tag for this "farm and ranch" saw is in the $700 range.
The MS-241 C-M has all the same features as the 201, but it is over a pound heavier. It does have more power and costs about $150 less from what I can tell. But I really don't need the extra power for what I need to do with the saw. The real difference and my quest to find the perfect saw is all in the weight savings.
My main question here is what else would I be getting with a "pro" saw in the 241? I've heard things like the pro saws have titanium stators and can be rebuilt much easier. So why is it cheaper that the 201?
Lastly, still on the list is a MS 193 C-E. It is the lightest and cheapest price out of all. It has no metal bumper spike or steel chain catcher; all that stuff is plastic. No M tronic either. I really like the $400 price tag, but the power of the 193 is not even hitting 1.8 bhp. Will I want more should I ever need to buck a whole tree after a storm?
So I've been researching the lightest and nicest rear handle saw I can find. Planned use are same as above: brush thinning, branch cutting, ground work. I'd really like to stick with Stihl because...it's a STIHL. Never had one and this will hopefully be a one time, long term purchase. BTW I tend to be tough on equipment, even just as a home owner. I always put things away clean and tidy and very orderly. And I'll maintain the saw as per or better than manufacturer suggestions. I just tend to be rough when working and getting after it. Onto the saws:
I REALLY like the MS-201 C-EM for it's light weight and features. It has a metal bumper spike, metal chain catcher, and M tronic engine. Supposedly this model has been improved since the first 201's came out. Only problem is that the price tag for this "farm and ranch" saw is in the $700 range.
The MS-241 C-M has all the same features as the 201, but it is over a pound heavier. It does have more power and costs about $150 less from what I can tell. But I really don't need the extra power for what I need to do with the saw. The real difference and my quest to find the perfect saw is all in the weight savings.
My main question here is what else would I be getting with a "pro" saw in the 241? I've heard things like the pro saws have titanium stators and can be rebuilt much easier. So why is it cheaper that the 201?
Lastly, still on the list is a MS 193 C-E. It is the lightest and cheapest price out of all. It has no metal bumper spike or steel chain catcher; all that stuff is plastic. No M tronic either. I really like the $400 price tag, but the power of the 193 is not even hitting 1.8 bhp. Will I want more should I ever need to buck a whole tree after a storm?
