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Husqvarna 90 – Husqvarna’s first chainsaw, launched in 1959

When this saw was being developed, one of the requirements for the product engineers was to significantly reduce its noise level. The production department thought the existing muffler ”seemed too complicated,” so the product engineers went to Husqvarna’s frame workshop, where frames for the company’s motorcycles and mopeds were made. Their skill in bending pipe made it possible to realize a new design for the mufflers. In November 1959, the Husqvarna 90 was presented, a chainsaw with noise levels that were half that of the competition’s.

Husqvarna 65 launched in February 1966

The first prototype of the Husqvarna 65 was too heavy. "We can’t put this saw into production," the engineers said. After further work on the saw, the center of gravity was moved closer to the handles, and the weight of the bar was reduced. The saw wasn’t only a breakthrough in terms of convenience, it was also very powerful and reliable. After testing one, a Canadian distributor exclaimed, "I’m throwing out my old saw brands – now we’re going to color the forest orange!"

Husqvarna 180 – launched at the Elmia Trade Fair outside Huskvarna in 1969

In 1969, the product engineers at Husqvarna were commissioned to develop a completely new chainsaw to be launched at the Elmia Fair, a large forestry fair outside Huskvarna. They had one year to do it. Other projects were put aside, and all available resources were focused on developing a safe and convenient chainsaw. The product engineers got hardly any time off at Christmas and New Years, but the saw was finished on time. The Husqvarna 180 was a huge success, kickstarting exports to the North American continent. Meanwhile, the vibration dampening system was so successful that the head of design was invited to give a lecture at the University of Dundee, during a conference on vibration-related injuries.

Husqvarna 162 – launched in 1975 in Sweden and Finland

After successfully making chainsaws quieter, lighter and with better vibration dampening, Husqvarna engineers turned their focus to safety. Using a chainsaw could be dangerous, and loggers often suffered serious injuries. In response, the Husqvarna 162 was developed, a thoroughly modern saw with fewer parts, an electronic ignition system and, perhaps most importantly, an automatic chainbrake. The innovation dramatically reduced the number of accidents. In fact, the factory in Huskvarna received a letter from a forestry company, thanking Husqvarna for saving lives with the new saw.

Husqvarna 133 – launched in 1981

From the first Husqvarna 90 to today's 572 XP®, Husqvarna has used many number combinations to name chainsaws over the last half-century. Sometimes, the numbers have taken on meanings of their own. Following its release in 1981, the Husqvarna 133 became very popular in Japan – much more so than the Husqvarna 444 or other saws with the number 4 in the name. Traditions in many Asian cultures associate the number 3 with love, while 4 is associated with death. Fortunately, Husqvarna made relatively safe chainsaws! Meanwhile, it was the saw's heated handles that earned it the love of forestry workers in northern Europe.

Husqvarna 50 Rancher – the first all-round saw, launched in 1982

Landowners needed a simple, robust saw that was extremely reliable. Husqvarna answered the call with the 50 Rancher. The first Husqvarna saw built for all-round use, it became immensely popular with farmers and forest owners in the United States. The name ”Rancher” became so well-known that many customers walked into the store and asked to buy ”a Rancher saw,” without knowing it was a Husqvarna they were talking about. Though it's undergone numerous improvements, the saw remains in production to the present day, now called the 55 Rancher. The Husqvarna 55 Rancher, that is.

Husqvarna 154 – to the market in 1983

The 154 completed Husqvarna’s professional chainsaw lineup. Launched at the company’s global sales conference in Sweden, it was displayed as a cross-section, allowing participants to inspect its technical details and innovations. The halved chainsaw was a hit, and similar displays were used to drive sales around the world. Orders soared in countries like Canada, Russia, Czechoslovakia and the United Kingdom. That's one way to double your money.

Husqvarna 262 XP® – the first saw with Air Injection, launched in 1989

Husqvarna has a proud history when it comes to the World Logging Championships. The contest is held every two years, attracting individual and national team competitors from some 30 countries. There are five events: tree felling, fitting another chain, bucking by combined cut, precision bucking and limbing. Husqvarna has won gold medals in the individual class seven times. The saw in the above photo is a Husqvarna 262 XP®, used by Vasile Babata from Romania when he won the World Logging Championships in 1994.

Husqvarna 394 XP® – introduced in 1991

The trial series of the Husqvarna 394 XP® was scheduled for transport to simultaneous launches in the United States and New Zealand. The timetable was extremely tight, and the saws weren't ready until a Saturday morning – when the factory gates are locked and there are no outgoing transports. By way of a last-ditch smuggling operation via a waiting taxi, the chainsaws reached their destinations in time. As a result, the launches were a hit. Husqvarna has been successful on the export market since the late 1960s. Today, 95% of all products are exported, and the company is represented by 18,000 dealers in almost 100 countries around the world.

Husqvarna 335XPT – the first specialist saw for arborists, introduced in 1997

One of Husqvarna’s most esteemed professional chainsaws is also its smallest. The Husqvarna 335XPT was the first saw to be developed specifically for tree care in towns, gardens and other developed or inhabited areas. An arborist’s job is to ensure trees remain safe, beautiful and healthy. Thanks to compact engines and very low body weights, Husqvarna arborist saws are trusted by tree workers around the world.

Husqvarna 346XPG – the first chainsaw with a snap-lock cylinder cover, introduced in 1999

The Husqvarna 346 went on sale in the spring of 1999. The saws were popular due to their high efficiency and low vibrations. 2001 saw the launch of the 346XPG, a variant featuring TrioBrake™. TrioBrake™ allows the chain brake to be activated with the right hand, reducing the risk of injuries and promoting a more ergonomic working position. Just like an integrated vibration reduction system and the inertia-activated chain brake, TrioBrake™ has the potential to become a new industry standard from Husqvarna.

Husqvarna’s first chainsaw was launched in 1959, and it was black and orange. Husqvarna products have been orange ever since. In 2009, we celebrated 50 years as a chainsaw manufacturer. As a result of the demands placed on us by professional forestry workers, we have the world's best chainsaw lineup. What can you expect from Husqvarna chainsaws over the next 50 years? Don’t ask us – ask our customers. 

We only know what the color will be.