Willard, that whole "which brand is best" discussion is a fine way to pass time while eating your lunch in the woods.
I've run most of the European brands during my time.
Mostly my choice of brand has been determined by what kind of dealer was to be found locally.
When I worked in Switzerland, I ran Jonsered, because that was what I could get.
Same goes for the first 5 years or so of working in Denmark.
Late 70es and early 80es Stihl had a lot of engine problems, so I stayed with Husky.
Then in 92 we moved to a different part of the country, where we have lived since.
The Stihl dealer here is a great guy, who knows that pro-fallers live by their saws.
When I bring a saw in, he'll drop what he is doing and get right on it, so I can get back in the woods earning money. ( that doesn't matter today, since I've got backup saws , but in leaner times it did)
The Husky/Jonsered dealer is an asshole, to put it bluntly. A cheating, no good type.
So I'm sticking to Stihl for that simple reason.
That said, Husqvarna seems to be dropping the pro market on the floor here, concentrating on selling saws for hobbyists and firewoodcutters .
And Jonsered is a joke. Why even keep the brand alive, when they are identical to Huskys once you get their clothes off?
)
The brand means a lot less to me than the particular model with it's attributes. If I hear about a "great" model saw, I try to find one. I'm not too keen on either the Stihl or Husky dealers in the area, but at least at the Stihl place you can have a conversation with someone who knows something about saws based upon experience, unlike at Husky where it all comes out like a shiny page of sales literature.
