Best/Most Desirable saws of each Decade?

[South_Prairie_Saw]

Like the title asks, what are some essential saws or some of the best performers from each decade?

If you look at my “collection” you’ll notice most saws are newer or from the era I grew up. As I’ve started expanding my searches for saws I’ve started to really get into some of the vintage or older stuff quite a bit more. It starts to get a little crazy the older you go as there were so many saw manufacturers and many models shared between brands. Growing up, you’d always hear about 044’s and 064/066 and the 371/372 etc… what are some saws that would have been viewed similarly in their time?

Apologies if there is a similar thread here, but I wasn’t able to find it!

I’ll start with my 440. I bought one of these new in high school when the 441’s were introduced and recently picked this one up for close to the same price (ignore the 400!)

 

[gorilla]

I put a MAGNUM sticker on my 038, it didnt make much difference to overall performance

 

[Junk Meister]

I put a MAGNUM sticker on my 038, it didnt make much difference to overall performance

Sticky side out ??

 

[redneckhillbilly]

I put a MAGNUM sticker on my 038, it didnt make much difference to overall performance

I think it only works if you have a woodsboss bar to go with it.

 

[South_Prairie_Saw]

I put a MAGNUM sticker on my 038, it didnt make much difference to overall

I was hoping this place was better than the Facebook pages…

 

[Coupe]

If you are going way back all the old saws were good.
Homelite XL12's took a lot of beating that's why they went on for so long.

 

[South_Prairie_Saw]

If you are going way back all the old saws were good.
Homelite XL12's took a lot of beating that's why they went on for so long.

Yeah kind of interested in the older saws. I just don’t have much exposure to a lot of them and there are so many manufacturers, or there were!

Which saws were considered “hot rods” for their time? Or which saw was “first” with features we have today?

 

[Ketchup]

The Pioneer p-39-65 series and the Dolmar 1x3 series were so good they rival the modern equivalents. McCullough and Homelite also had some excellent large models. Not to mention Jonsered and Poulan. And there also some crazy big saws like the Solo Super Rex. Vintage saw collecting can get expensive.

In general, there are a lot of good old saws in the large displacement categories. The smaller saws have really come a long way. Saws like Husky 242 and 55 still have a following though.

 

[pastryguyhawaii]

Here’s three saws I bought because of what I read about them. I’m no professional, I just use saws for my woodworking projects.
First is a Craftsman branded Poulan 5200. 85cc. I got it because it was said to be one of the strongest stock saws made.



Next is a Homelite SXL 925. I have the later 77cc version. I wanted one after someone said this saw would surprise you.


Then when I was told a Pioneer 3200 would out cut a SXL 925, I wanted one of those. 82cc. Pretty impressive saw considering it’s age.



I only know what I know from this & another site. A lot of people have a lot more saws & knowledge than I do but these are three of my favorites.

 

[Junk Meister]

Here’s three saws I bought because of what I read about them. I’m no professional, I just use saws for my woodworking projects.
First is a Craftsman branded Poulan 5200. 85cc. I got it because it was said to be one of the strongest stock saws made.

View attachment 478276

Next is a Homelite SXL 925. I have the later 77cc version. I wanted one after someone said this saw would surprise you.
View attachment 478280

Then when I was told a Pioneer 3200 would out cut a SXL 925, I wanted one of those. 82cc. Pretty impressive saw considering it’s age.

View attachment 478278

I only know what I know from this & another site. A lot of people have a lot more saws & knowledge than I do but these are three of my favorites.

I'm with you and raise you one "THE MEMBERS" They did a lot of Looking/LURKING and finally had to ask Questions. They (Including me) joined and acted like Kindergartners, Many are still here sharing. Pl5/pl7/pl770/c5/c52/c7/xl925/mini mac/mini mac 6/1010/Eager Beaver/ /wright/lombard/ 7/770/925/xl/xl12/bandit/020/009/011/012/015/020av/020avp/192/044/046/038/042/to name a few by size/model #'s C5/52/7/1000/1100/041/051/056/045/031/030/032/075/076/06/660/2152/2054/2025/ There is so much here to read and learn from. Many Many here can name hundreds and hundreds of great saws off the top of their noggin and trigger a memory of seeing/running/buying/repairing/regretting/selling different saws through the years. The OP might retain more about individual saws by reading the archives than just collecting brands and models of saws.

 

[Junk Meister]

I think it only works if you have a woodsboss bar to go with it.

YA gotta have FUEL and Bar OiL Doncha?

 

[redneckhillbilly]

Its really hard to say wich saws will hold relevance to collectors and users, if your looking at it from an investment perspective its really hard to say, I think sitting on some 395's in the boxes wouldnt be a bad thing.
i never would have guessed the following the 346 and even the 241c have ammassed.
in my opinion any of the older specimen in the closest to new condition wouldnt be a bad thing to have sitting around.
if you wanted to gamble maybe buy a couple MS400's before the .1 saws take over, just maybe the newer ones flop and demand remains strong for the original.

 

[redneckhillbilly]

YA gotta have FUEL and Bar OiL Doncha?

it depends on how good you can mimick and how loud of chainsaw sounds you can make.

 

[sawmikaze]

Its really hard to say wich saws will hold relevance to collectors and users, if your looking at it from an investment perspective its really hard to say, I think sitting on some 395's in the boxes wouldnt be a bad thing.
i never would have guessed the following the 346 and even the 241c have ammassed.
in my opinion any of the older specimen in the closest to new condition wouldnt be a bad thing to have sitting around.
if you wanted to gamble maybe buy a couple MS400's before the .1 saws take over, just maybe the newer ones flop and demand remains strong for the original.

I didn't know the 241s were still a hit with people,I have basically a brand new one Kevin ported I'll sell if people are still after them.

 

[hacskaroly]

Then when I was told a Pioneer 3200 would out cut a SXL 925, I wanted one of those. 82cc. Pretty impressive saw considering it’s age.

Isn't that the case. You see something someone else is excited about and you want to get one too!

 

[redneckhillbilly]

I didn't know the 241s were still a hit with people,I have basically a brand new one Kevin ported I'll sell if people are still after them.

there was a stock one in near new shape and it sold for damn near $1,000 on here, not to long ago.

 

[Wilhelm]

Stihl 090
McCullough 125
Sachs-Dolmar 166
Husqvarna 3120
Dolmar PS-7900

 

[Jay Hansen]

Some saws from past decades stand out because they fit their market niche so well. As a result, many of these models are desirable to collectors today. The SP 125 McCulloch and the 090 Stihl are certainly examples of this

 

[oddsaws]

What I’ve seen as ‘desirable’ or popular in my short time building saws. Or ones that will get bought up quickly. I usually work on 1980s to present:

Stihl 038 magnum II
Stihl 064
Stihl 066 (early, flat top, redlight)
Stihl 044 (early ks, 10mm wrist pin)
Stihl 046
Stihl MS200t

Husqvarna 181
Husqvarna 288xp (early models)
Husqvarna 266SE/xp
Husqvarna 346xp OE/NE
Husqvarna 357xp
Husqvarna 372xpw
Husqvarna 385xp
Husqvarna 394xp

Just got into Dolmar last year so learning more about what the people think were the good ones.

 

[Jay Hansen]

Some saws are desired just because they're rare, and in many cases they are rare because they resonated with very few buyers.I think that the Stick Shift 770 and the convertible Homelites with the planetary gear drive are two such examples.