STIHL Chainsaw Codes: What All The Designations and Names Mean

STIHL chainsaw names can look like alphabet soup: MS 261 C-M, MSA 220 TC-O, MS 462 R C-M, 038 AVS, 034 AVEQZ, and even the military 045 AVEK.

The letters are useful, but they have never formed one perfectly consistent system. STIHL has reused some letters, retired others, and changed several meanings over the decades. A Q on a vintage saw does not necessarily describe exactly the same brake system as a Q on a newer saw. Likewise, the C on a modern C-BE model means “Comfort,” but the rare 044 C is a historical complication.

This guide covers the normal current codes, discontinued codes, rare regional variants, vintage suffixes, early type names, and marketing designations used on STIHL chainsaws. Where the exact expansion is disputed or has not been published by STIHL, that uncertainty is stated rather than disguised as fact.

Quick Reference Table

What Every STIHL Chainsaw Code Means

MS — gasoline chainsaw

MS comes from the German word Motorsäge, meaning chainsaw or motor saw. STIHL introduced the MS naming system around the turn of the century. It replaced names such as 017, 025, 026, 036, 044, and 046 with MS 170, MS 250, MS 260, MS 360, MS 440, and MS 460. Every MS saw is a chainsaw, but the letters alone do not tell you whether it is homeowner, farm-and-ranch, or professional grade. More on MS, MSA, and MSE.

MSA — battery chainsaw

MSA is STIHL’s battery-chainsaw prefix. MS still means Motorsäge, while A is normally understood as Akku, the German term used for a rechargeable battery. STIHL’s public material is much more consistent about the practical meaning—battery chainsaw—than about spelling out every German word behind the acronym. Examples include the MSA 70 C-B, MSA 220 TC, and MSA 300 C.

MSE — corded-electric chainsaw

MSE denotes a mains-powered electric chainsaw. The E means electric or elektrisch. This is not the same as MSA: an MSE has a power cord, while an MSA uses a removable battery.

E before the number — early electric chainsaw

Before the MSE prefix, STIHL used simple E-series names such as E 10, E 14, E 15, E 20, E 30, E 140, E 180, and E 220 Q. Here the E identifies an electric saw. It should not be confused with the suffix E used for electronic ignition or Easy2Start.

AV — anti-vibration

On vintage saws, AV means the saw has an anti-vibration system that isolates the handles from engine and cutting-system vibration. STIHL began series production of an anti-vibration Contra in 1965, and the letters mattered because non-AV and AV versions could coexist. Anti-vibration later became standard, so STIHL stopped printing AV in normal modern model names. An MS 261 has anti-vibration even though AV is absent. Read the full STIHL AV history.

B — Quick Chain Adjuster

On a modern chainsaw, B means the saw has STIHL’s tool-free Quick Chain Adjuster. A user turns an external control rather than using a scrench on a conventional tensioning screw. B is generally shown after C, as in C-B or C-BE.

C — Comfort

On current models, C identifies a Comfort version with one or more convenience or safety features. The following letters tell you which features are fitted. C-BE, for example, combines a Quick Chain Adjuster (B) and Easy2Start (E). C-M combines the Comfort package with M-Tronic (M). STIHL itself describes C as Comfort, although the exact equipment included has varied by model and market. See the detailed C-code explanation.

The rare 044 C exception

The rare 044 C predates today’s neat C-BE system. STIHL’s corporate history associates the 1989 044 C with its pioneering catalytic converter, while historical parts and collector material also documents a rare automatic-choke/Comfort configuration. The safest description is that C on an 044 marks a special early technology version; depending on production date and market it may refer to the catalytic or automatic-choke package. Do not decode an 044 C solely by applying the modern “Comfort” rule.

D — catalytic converter

D identifies a catalytic-converter variant on models such as the MS 170-D, MS 440-D, and MS 460-D. These were uncommon, market-specific versions intended to reduce exhaust emissions. The letter is easy to miss because many catalogs did not offer the D version in every country.

E — electronic ignition on older saws

On vintage names such as 031 AVE, 045 AVE, or 015 AVEQ, the suffix E means electronic ignition. It distinguished the solid-state or transistorized system from earlier points-and-condenser ignition. Once electronic ignition became standard, the code was no longer necessary.

E — Easy2Start on modern saws

In a current code such as C-E, C-BE, or C-EM, E means STIHL Easy2Start. A spring between the starter rope and crankshaft reduces the speed and force needed to pull the starter. Context prevents confusion: E on a 1970s AVE saw is electronic ignition; E on an MS 182 C-BE is Easy2Start. STIHL’s starting guide distinguishes Easy2Start from the separate shock-absorbing ElastoStart grip. 

G — gear drive

G means gear-reduction drive, from the German Getriebe, meaning gearbox or transmission. The Contra G/GS, 041 G, and 090 G used reduction gearing to lower chain speed and multiply torque for very long bars and large timber. These are rare collector saws; nearly all later chainsaws are direct drive. See all known STIHL G models.

I — Intelligent Engine Management

 A capital I on the rare MS 280 I means Intelligent Engine Management, an early electronically regulated carburetion system that monitored and adjusted high-speed fuel flow. It was a forerunner to M-Tronic. Variants can appear as MS 280 I, MS 280 C-B I, C-BQ I, or with another market suffix such as IZ. Do not confuse capital I with the lowercase i on the MS 500i.

i — fuel injection

The lowercase i in MS 500i means electronically controlled fuel injection. Unlike M-Tronic, which manages a carbureted engine, the 500i meters fuel through an injection system. STIHL describes the MS 500i as the world’s first production chainsaw with electronically controlled fuel injection. STIHL product history.

K — chain brake on the military AVEK

K is exceptionally rare in a chainsaw model name. On the German military 045 AVEK family it stands for Kettenbremse, German for chain brake. Therefore AVEK reads as anti-vibration, electronic ignition, and chain brake. Civilian STIHL saws usually used Q for a Quickstop-equipped version, making the K particularly unusual. See the military 045 AVEK kit and model plate.

L — low noise

L means a low-noise or noise-reduced version on rare models such as the 015 L, 009 L/LE, and 023 L. The German connection is likely leise, meaning quiet. People sometimes guess that L means light, limbing, long, or loop handle, but STIHL documentation and period descriptions support low noise. On some models, the L version also differed substantially in power or handle layout, but those differences are not the literal meaning of the letter.

M — M-Tronic on modern saws

In C-M, M means STIHL M-Tronic. The electronic engine-management system controls ignition timing and fuel metering, compensating for temperature, altitude, fuel quality, and filter condition. MS 261 C-M, MS 400.1 C-M, MS 462 C-M, and MS 661 C-M are familiar examples.

M — Magnum on vintage saws

On an older saw such as the 038 AVM, M means Magnum. Magnum commonly marked a larger-displacement, higher-output, or premium version, but STIHL also used MAGNUM as market branding on saws that did not have a mechanically different non-Magnum twin in the same market. In other words, Magnum can indicate a real performance step or simply the marketed specification for that region and year. 

N — lower compression

The rare N suffix identifies a lower-compression and lower-output engine. Manuals list, for example, an MS 381 N below the standard MS 381 in power. These versions were useful in regions where lower-octane fuel was common. N models were not normal North American catalog items and may be known only from manuals or parts listings. Examples of STIHL N saws.

O — oil sensor

O on newer battery saws denotes chain-oil sensing or monitoring. The MSA 300 C-O and MSA 220 TC-O can warn the operator when chain oil is low. This is an oil-level/flow monitoring feature—not OILOMATIC chain geometry and not the adjustable oil pump itself.

P or Pro — professional

P and the written word Pro identify professional versions in names such as 020 AVP, 026 Pro, 036 Pro, MS 260 Pro, and MS 360 P. On the 020/012 family, sources agree that P was read as Professional, but the handle arrangements are confusing: surviving AVP saws and period options do not obey a simple “P equals top handle” rule. Treat P as the professional configuration, then identify the actual handle and equipment from the saw or its manual. The designation does not mean every STIHL professional saw carries a P—most do not.

Q — vintage Quickstop

On older saws, Q means the saw was equipped with STIHL Quickstop, its chain brake. An 031 Q, 041 AVQ, 048 AV Super EQ, or 015 AVEQ had a brake where another version might not. EQ therefore means electronic ignition plus Quickstop; AVEQ adds anti-vibration. STIHL’s history records the 031 AV (EQ) and 041 AV (EQ) as early saws combining electronic ignition and a chain brake.

QS — Quickstop Super

QS identifies Quickstop Super (as in this vintage poster) the second/additional chain-braking system used on saws such as the 036 QS and MS 360 QS. Some literature loosely groups Q and QS together, but a parts search should preserve the exact code because the controls and brake components may differ.

R — wrap handle

R means a wrap-around or three-quarter-wrap front handle on chainsaws. It lets the operator maintain a suitable grip in more felling and limbing positions. R versions may also receive a larger clutch cover, bigger dogs, a high-output oiler, or other regional forestry equipment, but the letter itself identifies the wrap handle. The Rescue model can also be an R saw, yet R does not automatically mean Rescue. STIHL explicitly describes the MS 461 R and MS 462 R this way.

S or Super — higher-performance version

On vintage saws, S or the word Super normally marks a more powerful version of the base model. The increase might come from a larger bore, longer stroke, altered cylinder, or another engine change; there is no single Super modification shared by every family. Examples include Contra S, 07 S, 08 S, 020 Super, 024 AVS, 028 AVS, 034 Super, 038 AVS, 041 AVS, 045 Super, 048 Super, and 056 AVS. STIHL later moved toward giving upgraded saws new model numbers instead. Every STIHL Super designation explained.

T — top handle

T denotes a top-handle arborist saw, such as the 020 T, MS 200 T, MS 201 TC-M, MSA 161 T, or MSA 220 TC-O. The rear grip sits above the engine for compact in-tree handling. Top-handle chainsaws are intended for trained professionals working in trees; T is a configuration code, not a promise that the saw is suitable for a novice or one-handed operation.

V — carburetor heating

V indicates electric carburetor heating for cold-weather work. A thermostat-controlled heater helps prevent carburetor icing. STIHL says electrically heated carburetors are identified by V and are paired with heated handles.

W — heated handles

W denotes heated handles. On current winter saws, V-W or the compact form VW means carburetor heating plus handle heating. An MS 500i W has heated handles; an MS 462 C-M VW has both systems. Older parts catalogs also show combined strings such as RVWZ: wrap handle, carburetor heat, handle heat, and spark arrestor.

Z — spark-arresting muffler

Z denotes a spark-arresting or “fire-safe” muffler, especially in U.S. configurations. It appears in long historical strings such as 009 LEQZ, 032 AVEQZ, 034 AVSEQWZ, MS 280 IZ, and MS 440 VWZ. Spark screens later became standard in many markets, so Z may be present in parts records without being prominent on the recoil badge.

FB / Farm Boss

Farm Boss is a market-positioning name for capable farm, ranch, and firewood saws. Historical examples include 041 FB, 038 AVEFB, and 038 AVSFB; modern examples include the MS 271 Farm Boss. FB does not describe one mechanical feature shared by all Farm Boss saws, and it does not turn a mid-range saw into the same construction class as STIHL’s professional forestry line.

WB / Wood Boss

Wood Boss was used on saws aimed at firewood and general property work, including the 028 WB and 024 AVEQWB. As with Farm Boss, it is mainly a product-positioning designation rather than a technical component code.

MB / Mini Boss

Mini Boss identified compact homeowner models such as the 009 Mini Boss. Some official code charts shorten it to MB, while saw decals often spell out the whole name. It is branding, not a motor specification.

Arctic

Arctic denotes a cold-weather package, usually involving heated handles and carburetor heat. A parts listing such as MS 440-VWZ Magnum Arctic can therefore be decoded feature by feature: V for carburetor heating, W for handle heating, Z for spark arrestor, plus Magnum and Arctic market labels.

Rescue

Rescue saws are prepared for fire and emergency-service work. Depending on model, they can include a wrap handle, depth limiter, special chain, large starter handle, extra guards, or heat protection. MS 462 R C-M Rescue means a wrap-handle, M-Tronic MS 462 in Rescue specification. The word Rescue—not the R by itself—is the emergency-services designation.

Deluxe

Deluxe is a rare early premium designation best known from advertising for the 030 AV Deluxe. It was a package or sales description rather than a durable code used across later STIHL ranges, so the included features must be checked against period literature.

How Combined STIHL Chainsaw Codes Read

• C-B means Comfort plus the Quick Chain Adjuster. Example: MSA 220 C-B.
• C-BE means Comfort, Quick Chain Adjuster, and Easy2Start. Example: MS 251 C-BE.
• C-E or CE means Comfort with Easy2Start. Example: MS 194 C-E. Spacing and hyphens vary in catalogs and on decals.
• C-EM means Comfort, Easy2Start, and M-Tronic. Example: MS 201 C-EM.
• C-M means Comfort version with M-Tronic. Example: MS 261 C-M.
• C-MQ means M-Tronic plus the additional Quickstop braking feature. Example: MS 261 C-MQ.
• C-O means Comfort version with chain-oil monitoring. Example: MSA 300 C-O.
• C-Q means Comfort plus a Quickstop additional/coast-down braking feature. Example: MSE 250 C-Q.
• TC-M means top handle, Comfort, and M-Tronic. Example: MS 201 TC-M. It is the same information sometimes spaced as T C-M.
• TC-O means top handle, Comfort, and oil sensor. Example: MSA 220 TC-O.
• AVE means anti-vibration plus electronic ignition.
• AVEQ means anti-vibration, electronic ignition, and Quickstop chain brake.
• AVEQZ adds a spark-arresting muffler to AVEQ.
• AVS means anti-vibration Super.
• AVM means anti-vibration Magnum.
• AVT / AVET means anti-vibration top-handle, with E adding electronic ignition.
• AVEK is the rare military combination of anti-vibration, electronic ignition, and Kettenbremse chain brake.
• VW means carburetor heating plus heated handles.
• R C-M means wrap handle and M-Tronic Comfort version.
• RVWZ means wrap handle, carburetor heat, heated handles, and spark-arresting muffler.

What the Numbers Mean

STIHL’s numbers are model-family identifiers, not a reliable displacement code. An MS 261 is approximately 50 cc, not 26.1 or 61 cc; an MS 462 is approximately 72 cc; and an MS 500i is about 79 cc. Higher numbers often correlate loosely with a larger or more powerful saw within the same era, but exceptions are common.

The move from the old 0-series to MS names created several obvious relationships: 017 to MS 170, 025 to MS 250, 026 to MS 260, 036 to MS 360, 044 to MS 440, and 046 to MS 460. These are product-line transitions, not a mathematical rule that can decode every STIHL saw. Later final digits often indicate a generation—MS 260, 261, and 262-style naming—but STIHL can redesign a saw without following one universal sequence.

New decimal names such as MS 400.1 C-M and MSA 220.1 T identify a new engineering generation or revision. The .1 is not engine displacement. STIHL describes the MS 400.1 as a complete redevelopment of the MS 400 C-M.

For parts, the consumer model name is not always enough. STIHL also assigns a four-character series or family identifier—such as 1121, 1141, or 1142—and makes running production changes. Always use the complete model, suffixes, serial number, and machine/series number when ordering components for an unusual variant.

The Earliest STIHL Type Codes

• STG 1: This is the name commonly attached to STIHL’s first electric chainsaw from the 1920s. The complete expansion of STG is not consistently documented in accessible STIHL material, so it is safest to call it an early factory type name rather than invent an acronym.
• Type A, BD, and BBU: These are genuine early STIHL model designations. Their exact letter-by-letter expansions are difficult to establish from reliable public records. BBU was a distinctive bow-style saw, but expanding all three letters without a period factory document would be guesswork.
• B 2 Z: This was a huge early two-cylinder machine. A plausible reading is “petrol, two-cylinder,” with Z referring to German Zylinder, but that expansion should be marked as probable rather than proven.
• KS 43: KS most likely refers to Kettensäge—chain saw—and 43 corresponds to its 1943 introduction. That interpretation is logical and widely repeated, but STIHL’s public historical pages generally present KS 43 simply as the type name.
• BL: Usually expanded as Benzin-Leicht, or petrol-light. It was an early one-man gasoline saw and a predecessor to the lighter BLK.
• BLK: Commonly and credibly expanded as Benzin-Leicht-Klein: petrol, light, small. The name emphasized how compact the saw was compared with the enormous two-man machines that preceded it.
• Contra: Contra was a model name rather than a string of feature letters. The direct-drive one-man Contra was a landmark saw introduced in 1959. Contra S adds Super, while Contra G adds gear reduction. The occasional 06 or 070 attached to the family belongs to the model/version identity; it should not be decoded using modern suffix rules.

Designations

The quickest way to decode a STIHL chainsaw is to read it from left to right. The prefix tells you the power source: MS for gasoline, MSA for battery, and MSE for corded electric. The number identifies the model family. The suffixes then describe equipment such as C-BE for Comfort, Quick Chain Adjuster, and Easy2Start; C-M for M-Tronic; T for top handle; R for a wrap handle; VW for cold-weather heating; or O for an oil sensor.

Vintage saws require more care. AV, E, Q, S, M, G, L, K, N, and Z can describe technologies that later became standard, disappeared, or changed meaning. A 038 AVM, 034 AVEQZ, and MS 261 C-M may share letters without using the same naming logic.

That inconsistency is part of STIHL chainsaw history. The code is a useful starting point—not a substitute for checking the exact model plate, market, production period, and manual, especially when dealing with a rare military, Arctic, low-compression, catalytic, Super, Magnum, or Electronic Quickstop version.