Description
If you want one petrol saw that sits in the “proper pro” bracket without the weight and bulk of a larger felling saw, the STIHL MS 261 C-M is a brilliant sweet spot. It’s designed for forestry work in small to medium stands and day-to-day tree maintenance, where you need a saw that accelerates quickly, holds its chain speed in hardwood, and stays comfortable over a long shift.
At its core is a 50.2 cm³ engine producing 3.0 kW, paired with STIHL’s M-Tronic electronic engine management. In real use, that means the saw constantly adjusts fuel and ignition to suit what you’re doing, helping it start easily and keep performance consistent as temperature, altitude or fuel conditions change.
This newer version also comes with STIHL’s Light 04 guide bar and the .325″ RS Pro chain. STIHL positions this setup as a step up in cutting efficiency, noting the narrower kerf and stating up to 20% more cutting performance compared with the previous .325″ RS chain.
For everyday ownership, it’s packed with details that make pro life easier: a long-life air filtration setup with an HD2 filter for longer service intervals, adjustable oil delivery so you can match lubrication to bar length and timber conditions, a stainless steel muffler, and captive nuts to reduce the chance of losing hardware in the woods. The saw is also impressively manageable at 4.9 kg dry weight (without bar and chain), helping it feel agile for snedding, cross-cutting and general forestry tasks.
