Echo CS-341, to keep or not to keep?

[motowbrowne]

I have a chance to inherit an echo cs-341 arborist saw at no cost. The saw is in good working order, but here is the catch: I own no other saw currently. The 341 is a fine saw for what it was designed for, in tree arborist work (the handle is on top for one hand use), but it is far from an ideal "all-around" saw. My dad has an old Stihl 036 that I can use for sugar wood, but I have a use for a saw for more of the year. I have my sights set on a new MS 362, or trying to find a 361 used, but my fear is that if I keep the 341 it will force me to compromise having the right saw for the job with using the saw i got for free. Is a super tiny arborist saw a good thing to have around? does anyone have one that size they use a lot? Should i keep it, cause it's free, and get a big saw too? Also, any input on a new saw to get? I live in Washington state most of the year and there seem to be lots of saws on craigslist there, how you you folks feel about buying a used saw? I like the size and weight of the MS 361/362, but if anyone has any other suggestions, i would like to hear them, mostly I would use the saw for firewood and thinning, but I want a quality saw that will last a lot of years.

[brookledge]

I would take it and then see how much use you have for it. I have a simmilar stihl and I must say I hardly ever use it. good saw to use when you are off the ground in the air. But then again take the saw see how it works for you and then if you want sell it and use it towards a different one. As for buying used, as long as you have an eye for what to look for and do a compresion test buying a used saw can save you a lot. But be patient start to monitor what the size saw you want goes for used then when you can get a very good price and the compression is good and overall apierence is good buy it. Buying oilder saws make sure you buy a model that still has parts available.
Keith

[C.Wilcox]

Take it. I have a large 80+cc saw right now and it's my only saw. It chews through a lot of wood in a hurry and is great when the goal is reducing a 12 cord load, but I can't tell you how bad I'd like to get a small arborist saw like that Echo for cutting up tops, pruning trees, etc. Those little guys also make great backup saws if you go hunting in the mountains. You never know when a tree will fall over the road and that little saw doesn't take up much space in the trailer.

[batsofbedlam]

I bought the same Echo saw a few years ago and now I use more than my Stihl 034. Its a great saw for cutting the smaller limbs of a dropped tree and save the 034 for the big stuff. The Echo saw is a lot easier on your back to.

[Dennis H.]

I have a very similar echo but it is not a top handle. Great little saw.
I used that now for about 15 years and works as good as the day I got it. It has a 16" bar on it right now. It is max that I would use, a 14" bar would be better.
I have used it for more than it was designed for and couldn't be happier.

I would take it and use it. If you should get into logs larger than 14" than go barrow the big saw.