31 BIGGEST One-Man Chainsaws Ever Made (By Displacement)

There are a surprising number of big one-man chainsaws over 100 cc that have been produced since the 1940s and 50s.

In this post we’ve ranked the 31 biggest chainsaws (by displacement), but I’m sure we’ve missed many. So let us know in the comments the chainsaw makes and model that should be included. 

Here’s the list, starting with the biggest one-man saw ever produced… the CHAMP!

1. Champ Universal 160 — 160 cc

The Champ Universal 160 is an early high-displacement saw introduced in 1955 with a huge 160 cc engine. It was built for heavy timber work in an era when sheer cubic capacity was the path to cutting power. Despite being marketed as a one-man saw, its size and weight made it a demanding machine that blurred the line between portable saw and small mechanized logging tool.

2. Solo Super Rex 142 — 142 cc

The Solo Super Rex was a massive 142 cc German-built chainsaw from the early 1960s, designed for professional forestry work when raw displacement and torque mattered more than weight. Even today it’s among the most powerful one-man saws in the world, but at well over 10 kg powerhead-only, it earned a reputation as a real arm-stretcher in the woods.

3. PM 390 (Power Machinery Ltd.) — 139 cc

The Model 390 was a large chainsaw built by Power Machinery Ltd. in Canada beginning in 1968, powered by a 139 cc engine and featuring a sand-cast magnesium body, and a wide range of guide bar lengths from 16″ up to 60″ for heavy cutting tasks. It weighed about 24 lb (powerhead only) and was built as a robust professional saw of its era.

4. Skil 1690 — 139 cc

The Skil 1690 is a rare, large-bore 139 cc gas chainsaw made in the late 1960s/early 1970s by Skil (from the design by Power Machinery/Canadien). The saw is noted for its hefty engine and professional-grade build at a time when few one-man saws approached that displacement. It’s often sought by collectors today for its size, Canadian manufacture, and rarity.

5. STIHL 090 — 137 cc

The STIHL 090 was introduced in 1968 with a 137 cc two-stroke engine producing about 13 hp and weighing roughly 13.9 kg (30.6 lb). It’s one of the most recognizable chainsaws ever made and probably the number one saw with the highest production numbers on this list.

You may also hear rumors of an even larger STIHL 096, but after looking into it, there’s no real evidence it existed as a production saw.

6. STIHL Contra S — 137 cc

The STIHL Contra S is a German-made, one-man chainsaw introduced in 1964 with a 137 cc two-stroke engine and about 12 hp, weighing around 29.7 lb (13.5 kg) with a 17 in guide bar and without a chain brake. There were many versions of the Contra (as you can see in the advert above), with the Contra S being the biggest.

7. Wards (Montgomery Ward) WD-99 — 134.4 cc

The Wards WD-99 is a 1963 Chicago-built one-man chainsaw sold under the Montgomery Ward brand, powered by an 8.2 cu in. (134 cc) engine and weighing about 29 lb for logging use. It’s a very rare saw today — it’s hard to even find images of it!

8. Whitehead 120 Logger — 134.4 cc

The Whitehead 120 Logger is a 1962 one-man chainsaw built by the Whitehead Chain Saw Company of Atlanta, Georgia. It is powered by an 8.2 cu in. (134 cc) West Bend engine and weighing about 22 lb with a rigid handle setup and manual oiler typical of saws of its era.

9. LANCASTER EIGHT 20 (8-20) — 134.37 cc

The Lancaster EIGHT 20 (8-20) is a one-man chainsaw built by Lancaster Pump & Mfg. Co. of Pennsylvania beginning in 1962, powered by a 134 cc (8.2 cu in) West Bend engine and weighing about 23 lbs for professional cutting work.

10. Monark Silver King 8.1 — 130.7 cc

The 130.7 ccSilver King 8.1 is a vintage chainsaw built by Monark Silver King Co. of Chicago, notable as an early American-made saw prized today by collectors for its rarity and classic design. The G8.1 is another version which is gear driven rather than direct.

11. Mall 11 Chain Saw — 130 cc

The 130 cc Mall 11 is a versatile vintage chain saw introduced in 1950 by the Mall Tool Company with a 130 cc engine and capable of being used as either a one-man or two-man saw depending on bar length.

12. Solo Rex — 125 cc

The Solo Rex is a powerful 125 cc German-made one-man chainsaw introduced in 1958 that set a benchmark in its class with strong torque, a diaphragm carburetor, and early use of plastic parts, becoming an iconic and collectible example of post-war forestry engineering.

13. McCulloch Super Pro 125 — 123 cc

The McCulloch Super Pro 125 was only produced for a short time. It was introduced in August 1971 and discontinued in December 1972. The saw has a 7.5 cu in. (123 cc) engine, weighs about 23 lb and runs with guide bars from 18″ to 36″.

14. McCulloch CP 123 cc

The McCulloch CP 125 is a U.S.-built chainsaw made by McCulloch Motors Corp. from about 1969 to 1971, featuring a 7.5 cu in. (123 cc) engine, anti-vibration bars and centrifugal clutch, and offered guide bars from about 18″ up to 36″ for a range of cutting tasks.

15. STIHL MS 780 — 121.6 cc

The STIHL MS 780 is a large-capacity petrol chainsaw with a 121.6 cm³ two-stroke engine producing about 5.6 kW (7.6 hp) and a dry weight around 9.8–9.9 kg, designed to run on bars from roughly 63 cm up to 150 cm for heavy woodcutting tasks. The saw is not available in the US.

16. STIHL 084 — 122 cc

The STIHL 084 is a 122 cc professional-grade Stihl chainsaw made from the mid-1980s to the late-1990s, famous for its strong torque and capability on big tree felling and milling jobs. It’s prized by fans and collectors alike, though many of its original parts have become hard to source.

17. STIHL 088 — 121.6 cc

The STIHL 088 Magnum is a large 121.6 cc professional-grade chainsaw built from about 1997 to 2004, one of Stihl’s most powerful production saws of its era and used primarily for big tree felling and milling rather than everyday firewood work. It later evolved into the MS 880 and MS 881 models in Stihl’s lineup.

18. STIHL MS 880 — 121.6 cc

The STIHL MS 880 is a massive professional chainsaw powered by a 121.6 cc engine, designed for heavy-duty logging, big tree work and milling where maximum power and durability are required. It’s the modern successor to earlier big-bore Stihl saws like the 088 Magnum and remains popular with arborists and sawyers who need serious cutting performance.

19. STIHL MS 881 — 121.6 cc

The STIHL MS 881 is an absolute beast of a chainsaw, packing a 121.6 cc engine and built for the kind of heavy duty work most saws would not survive, like giant timber and serious milling. It is big, powerful, and heavy, but when you need maximum cutting muscle in a one man saw, this is what you reach for.

20. Alpina Super Pro 120 — 120 cc

The Alpina Super Pro 120 was a large Italian-built one-man chainsaw with a 120 cc engine and die-cast magnesium body, weighing about 10.8 kg and offered with guide bars up to 36″ for heavy cutting jobs. It had an automatic oil pump, anti-vibration handles, and was designed to bring serious power to portable forestry work.

21. Husqvarna 3120 XP — 118.8 cc

The Husqvarna 3120 XP is one of Husqvarna’s biggest production chainsaws with about a 119 cc engine and plenty of power to tackle large trees, heavy logging jobs and sawmill use. It’s been in production for decades with a reputation among professionals for strong cutting performance and the ability to drive very long bars for oversized work.

22. Echo CS-1201 — 116.3 cc

The Echo CS‑1201 is ECHO’s most powerful chainsaw, powered by a 116.3 cc professional-grade two-stroke engine with about 5.1 kW (6.9 hp) output and a dry weight of around 10.6 kg. It’s designed to handle big tree felling with guide bars up to about 90 cm (36″) and combines strong cutting performance with balanced ergonomics.

23. Homelite Super 2100 Auto — 114 cc

The Homelite Super 2100 Auto was a mid-20th-century one-man chainsaw with a 7.0 cu in. (114 cc) two-cycle engine, die-cast magnesium body and rigid handle, weighing about 22 lb (powerhead only). It came with guide bars from about 17″ up to 60″ and was designed for a range of cutting jobs.

24. Homelite 3100G — 114.7 cc

The Homelite 3100G was a powerful late-1960s era professional chainsaw with a 7.0 cubic inch (about 114 cc) engine, built around Homelite’s “Power Boost” hemi-head design for stronger combustion and cooler running. Weighing around 27½ pounds without bar and chain, it was aimed at serious logging work and could run guide bars up to 60 inches, making it a true big-timber saw of its day.

25. STIHL 076 — 111 cc

The STIHL 076 was a big professional-grade chainsaw from Stihl’s lineup in the 1970s and ’80s with a roughly 120 cc engine and rugged construction aimed at heavy logging and big-timber work. It wasn’t a lightweight homeowner saw but a serious tool built to handle tough commercial cutting jobs with larger guide bars and strong torque.

26. STIHL 075 — 111 cc

The STIHL 075 was a classic large-bore professional chainsaw introduced in the 1970s, powered by a big displacement engine and built to handle demanding cutting tasks in forestry rather than casual homeowner use. It offered strong torque and capacity for longer bars, making it a favorite among loggers and heavy-duty users in its day.

27. Danarm 110 Auto — 109.8 cc

The Danarm 110 AUTO is a vintage British-made petrol chainsaw introduced in the 1960s by Danarm of Stroud, Gloucestershire, known for its roughly 110 cc two-stroke engine and solid old-school construction. Collectors and enthusiasts today value these Danarm saws for their classic design and historical appeal rather than performance.

28. STIHL Contra — 106 cc

The STIHL Contra Lightning was introduced in 1959 and is a gearless chainsaw with a 106 cc two-stroke engine that made around 9 hp and weighed about 24–29 lb (11–13 kg) depending on the version and bar length. This iconic saw paved the way for the STIHL 070 and 090.

29. STIHL 070 — 106 cc

The STIHL 070 is powered by a 105.7 cc engine producing around 4.8 kW (6.5 hp) and weighs roughly 10.7–12 kg (24–26 lb) without bar and chain. Originally made from 1968 to about 1977 (with later production continuing for export markets), the 070 succeeded the Contra 070 and slots below the larger-engine 090 in Stihl’s vintage lineup, offering slightly less displacement and power than the 137 cc 090 while still handling long guide bars and heavy cutting tasks.

30. STIHL MS 720 — 105.7 cc

The STIHL MS 720 is a big chainsaw with a 105.7 cc two-stroke engine producing about 4.8 kW (6.5 hp) and a dry weight of around 10.8 kg, typically paired with long guide bars (e.g., 63 cm / 25″ and up) for cutting large timber. It’s an evolution of the 070. It’s another saw that is not available in most Western markets.

31. STIHL BLK 58 — 105 cc

The STIHL BLK 58 was produced from about 1956 to 1965 and has a 105 cc single-cylinder two-stroke engine, weighing around 24 lb (≈11 kg) with no modern chain brake and originally intended for general cutting work rather than heavy professional use.

Largest Chainsaws Ever Made

So there you have it. The biggest chainsaws ever made by mankind!

Eventually we will grow this list to include every chainsaw that is 100 cc and over, so let us know which saws that would include. Thanks!