Interactive reference · gas, electric & battery · 1926–2026

Stihl chainsaw
bar length & displacement

Every Stihl chainsaw engine family — the 4-digit series cast on the crankcase — plotted by displacement and guide bar length. One bar per family traces the lineage (1122 is 064 → 066 → MS 660); click any series for its full model roster, markets, chain pitch, and rarity. Covers gas, electric, and battery saws from the 1959 Contra to today's MS 881 and MS 500i.

Suffix decoder
AV Anti-vibration
AVE AV + electronic ignition
AVEQ AV + electronic + QuickStop
AVS AV + Super
AVM AV + Magnum (big-bore)
S Super (bigger bore)
FB / WB Farm Boss / Wood Boss (US)
C-M M-Tronic engine mgmt
C-B Quick chain tensioner
C-E Easy2Start / ErgoStart
C-Q QuickStop Super brake
Q / QS QuickStop chain brake
R Wrap handle
T Top-handle (arborist)
i Fuel injection (500i)
W / Arctic Heated handles (winter)
Z Spark-arrest muffler
G Gear drive (Getriebe reduction)
L Light / narrow bar
P / Pro Professional spec
Class
Era
Range
Showing

Tap any series for its full model roster, chain spec & data confidence.

Displacement
24 cc137 cc
Bar fill
Solid = single displacement.
Gradient = series spans displacements
Era
In production Discontinued
Reading the bar
Solid span = published / typical range.
Hatched = real-world reach (assumes skip chain)
Data confidence
Each panel tags its provenance: verified (vs Stihl/official) · sourced (master list / fiche / forum) · estimated / approx / stale-risk (lowest — needs checking).
Heritage — pre-series two-man era (1926–1971)

No 4-digit series and no modern "bar length" — these are two-man saws rated by weight. Museum-tier artifacts.

ModelYearsTypeNotesRarity
Electric line (MSE / E-series · 1967→)
SeriesModel(s)YearsMarketNotes
Battery line (MSA · Series 1252 · 2013→)
ModelYearsSystemNotes
Methodology, sources & how to read the bar/chain figures

Source: built from your Global Stihl Master List (Fire & Saw + Sawinery + dealer fiche + collector records), reorganised by engine series. Displacement per series is the representative figure for the family; values marked ≈ are approximate where fiche data is thin (mostly pre-1980 families). Critical for parts: same model name across two series = zero interchangeable internals (MS 181 in 1130 vs 1139; 041 vs 041 G in 1110 vs 1112) — verify the casting number. Corrections from the master list are flagged ⚠ in each panel.

On bar length & chain — read this: the solid bar is Stihl's published / typical recommended range. The hatched "real-world" reach is the least-rigorous data here: a few values are forum/dealer-grounded (462 ≈ 32″, 500i & 661 ≈ 42″ from arborist-forum milling reports; 880/881 59″ is Stihl's own spec), but most are my estimates extrapolated from displacement and general falling/milling practice — not a single authoritative source. More importantly, bar length alone doesn't determine what a powerhead can pull — the chain does. Real-world long-bar figures assume appropriate chain, typically skip or semi-skip tooth (fewer cutters = less drag) and often a coarser pitch (.404 vs 3/8) on the biggest saws. The same saw that struggles with a 36″ full-comp 3/8 bar will happily run a 36″ skip. Treat the hatched reach as "achievable with the right chain," not "drop on a stock loop and go." Pitch tiers (per Stihl's chain chart, tracking saw size): 1/4″ & 3/8″ Picco (low-profile) on sub-40cc saws · .325″ in the 40–55cc middle · full 3/8″ is the 55–90cc workhorse pitch · .404″ above ~90cc and on milling rigs. The MS 26x is the smallest Stihl that steps up to true 3/8″. Skip vs full-comp: full-comp is standard to ~24–25″; semi-skip suits ~28–32″; skip is normal at 32″+ and on any long milling bar. Per-family pitch in each panel is the typical OEM spec — it varies by market, model year, and sprocket, so confirm against the bar, chain, or sprocket before buying.