The Stihl MS720 is a powerful 1106 series chainsaw.
It’s a 105.7 cc, 4.8 kW, 23.8 lb beast of a saw – it’s the same as the Stihl 070, only with a few minor updates.
The MS720 is still available for sale new in some parts of the world—such as South Africa, Malaysia, and the Philippines—but whether or not it is still being produced is a mystery.
It is or was presumably made in the Stihl factory in Waiblingen, Germany, but there are suggestions that it could be produced in Brazil as well or instead.
Stihl MS720 Chainsaw
Whether or not the MS720 is still being produced, it can still be purchased in several countries worldwide.
There seems to be plenty of stock, and the Stihl South Africa website still has it listed for sale.
Their description goes:
The MS 720 – Improved design of the most popular livelihood chain saw STIHL 070. Equipped with the New Duromatic E guide bar (approximately 8% thicker) for less vibration.
It’s commonly used for milling and felling hardwood trees.
It’s difficult to find much verifiable information about the MS720’s history, and, as already stated, no one seems to know for sure if it’s still in production.
However, other than that, there are still units for sale; there is no evidence that it is still being produced.
Production year figures that are mentioned in places state 2012 – 2015 – though many will dispute that (let us know in the comments).
Many dealers outside of the countries where it is still sold don’t even know it’s available.
The reason it is not sold in the USA, Canada, UK, Australia, New Zealand, and Europe is due to safety and emissions regulations.
Stihl makes the MS720 for countries that don’t have the same standards as these large Western markets.
It is suggested that Stihl is so quiet about producing these saws because they are possibly being used for rainforest and jungle deforestation and other arguably dodgy practices.
Unfortunately, this type of thing is happening one way or another, but I guess you wouldn’t want to have a particular saw associated with it.
Would it be Stihl’s fault what someone did with their saw?
Perhaps if they knew that was its primary purpose.
Did Poulan care what Leatherface did with their chainsaw in The Texas Chainsaw Massacre?
That’s just speculation, but if you have more info, drop it in the comment section below.
The saw is extremely popular in Africa and Asia for work other than deforestation, and there’s no doubt that many in the US and around the world would love to own one.
Stihl MS720 Specs
Exact MS720 specs may vary depending on the year of manufacturing.
Here are the specs as listed in the manual:
- Displacement: 105.7 cm3
- Cylinder bore: 58 mm
- Stroke: 40 mm
- 4.8 KW at 7000 RPM
- 6.5 bhp
- Idle speed: 2000 RPM
- Cut-off speed: 8000 RPM
- Dry weight: 23.8 lb/10.8 kg
You can download the MS720 manual here (instant download).
It doesn’t have as much power as some of Stihl’s other large chainsaws, but it has other benefits.
For example, the 720 is incredibly tough and often described as indestructible.
It’s also much easier to maintain and perform repairs than other saws.
It was designed to be worked on in the forest or jungle, where one doesn’t have access to every tool under the sun. Much like these other chainsaws not sold in North America.
MS720 features include:
- Compensator – prevents fuel/air mixture from getting too strong with a dirty filter
- Ematic chain lubrication – a long bar needs plenty of oil
- Single control – start, choke, throttle, stop all with one switch
- Decompression valve
- Anti vibe system
- Power to weight ratio or 2.2
- Filter made of non-woven fabric (HD2 filter)
- Quickstop Chain Brake
But remember, exact specs and features vary depending on where and when the chainsaw is being sold.
The MS720 is a cousin to the MS780, a higher-powered 5.6 kW, 7.6 hp saw (compared to the 720’s 4.8 kW, 6.5 hp).
The MS780 is predominantly sold in the South American market.
Fake MS720 Chainsaws
There are plenty of fake or clone Stihl 070/MS720 chainsaws out there.
The above post by a helpful guy in the Stihl Chainsaw Fans Facebook Group can help you determine whether or not you have the real deal.
4 signs of a genuine MS720 or 070:
- Flat head screws
- Embossed Stihl logo on basically every part of the saw
- Real serial number
- Genuine Stihl logo
Many fakes are made with cheap Chinese parts that won’t last or perform as well as OEM parts.
Some of those signs can be faked as well of course – you can get hand-stamped fake serial numbers and that sort of thing.
You may also see genuine OEM MS720 chainsaws that were not factory assembled—another thing to watch out for if you want something factory new.
Guys also make these saws from parts and then sell them as if they were factory-built (like this STIHL 200T example).
A dead giveaway to this practice is that it won’t be sold with original boxing – unless they manage to source and package it up with an original box, of course!
Stihl MS720
We’ll update this post as more information comes to hand through research and speaking with knowledgeable folk.
Don’t rely on this information 100% because, as I’ve said, it’s hard to find accurate information on the MS720.
Everybody seems to say something different!
My stihl ms 720 chain becomes very slack while being used and leaks oil after finishing used it . It’s a rea annoying problem.