The STIHL 050 AV Super is an experimental or extremely limited pre-production saw, not a regular catalogued model. Collectors have only identified a handful of them.
Those who have examined surviving 050 Supers report that they had a larger-bore, two-piece cylinder with a removable head and a single-ring piston. One theory is that STIHL used them as development mules for the later 111 cc STIHL 075; another is that they were simply the forerunners to the 051.
No factory brochure, parts list, or official production record for the 050 Super has surfaced.
Wayne Sutton shared the following image on chainsawcollectors.se.
He said:
I have only seen 3 of the Super variety 050s. Each have been slightly different, which I attribute to the damage that pro saws normally see. Some parts have been replaced etc. I was not involved when they were current models, and they may have been only regionally available.
I think that the big item which I noticed was a removeable head on a larger bore jug. There may be and is no doubt other things which I did not notice but I had one old sawshop owner tell me that they were the test platform for the 075. This one is the best condition one I have seen but it has a blown-up motor.
On a Facebook post shared in 2024, Wayne reiterated:
These had a removable head cylinder and were larger displacement than the standard 50s. Whether it was cutting ground for the 051 or checking viability for the 075, I’m not sure. There were several of them floating around our area in the late 70s and early 80s.
In the Arborist Forum, Jacob said:
Stihl made a prototype version of the 075 called the “050 Super”, which essentially had an 075 jug with a removable head, and a lighter weight, single-ring piston. Saw-King had one in his shop for years.
And in a newer, July 2026 post on chainsawcollectors.se, member ‘BryceBlair’ shared a bunch of great pictures of a new-to-him 050 Super.
| Specification | STIHL 050 AV | STIHL 050 Super |
|---|---|---|
| Production | 1968–1972 | Early 1970s prototype; dates unknown |
| Displacement | 89 cc | Approximately 111 cc* |
| Power | 5.8 hp / 4.3 kW | Not documented; possibly around 7 hp* |
| Bore | 52 mm | Approximately 58 mm* |
| Stroke | 42 mm | Apparently 42 mm* |
| Weight | 11.4 kg / 25.1 lb with 21-inch bar and chain | Unknown |
| Guide bars | 21–30 inches | No official range documented |
| Cylinder | One-piece cylinder, two-ring piston | Two-piece cylinder with removable head and single-ring piston |
*The Super’s engine figures are inferred from collector reports that it used what was essentially a prototype STIHL 075 cylinder. The production 075 had a 111 cc engine, 58 mm bore, 42 mm stroke and 7 hp. However, no factory specification sheet for the 050 Super is known, so these are not confirmed figures.
Find out more about STIHL Super Chainsaws here.
