Stihl Contra German Military Kit

[MacLaren]

ney, I just got my masters degree this year. phD is 3 years so it will prolly happen next year.
that 346 has made some money this sumer; I have been bucking firewoods for my parents neighbors; been working at 12 cubic meters at the time.
Not happy about fuel consumption and I think I need a 70+ cc for the job.
but for now it`ll do.
other than that, busy like no tomorrow, my son is 14 months old, so that`s an extra.
can`t wait for him to grow to play with his chainsaw,
cheers

Allright man! Glad things are goin great. My little girl is 22 months. Those extras are what its all about. Yup, a 70+cc saw would be nice for sure. Again, glad to hear all is well!

 

[sawbones]

First of all that is a very nice Contra but Iam very suprised that it is not green, which would suggest that it is in fact a very good saw which has been added to a genuine kit. Every Contra that has been in service I have seen has been green, such as my own and Brad's, and even a few had a green "bonnet" Are there any military #'s or even hand written #'s
There was a unissued Contra about 2 years ago that went for around $1700.
The German army went from BLK on to Contra then 045 and on to 064.
I like the filling jig which I have myself and the box of parts are great. The kit is almost the same as my BLK's kit the spare chain box is almost a work of art.
You have got a very nice result there.

I would question if the civilian contra was original in that box too.

I think somebody found a nice kit and put a cherry contra in it.

Have only seen a few contra military but have seen many blk's, a couple 045 and 064 military all green plus the earlier KS43 2 man.

Marshall Trovers never fired BLK, made right before the contra.

 

[JonnyStihl]

I'm not that surpriced, just a little - as far from all Army saws are green.

One possibility is that it just isn't part of the original batch the German Army bought, but from additional batch bought later. 1965 is a late date for a contra.

I agree. That Contra matches the 1965 date on the box.

CAD

 

[WoodBoss83]

Thats awesome! Would you mind to share the story of how you came across something so rare? Germany is a long ways from Kentucky.

I wish I had a good story to tell but, I found it on ebay. It was listed in Germany, and I started talking to the gentlemen that had it, and he agreed to ship it to me. I guess I just got lucky.:msp_biggrin:

 

[SawTroll]

If the date of the saw fits with the date of the case, I'd think it is a genuine Army one - otherwise not.....

 

[wyk]

This may be a dumb question, but I wander what the US military currently uses? Stihl or Husqvarna?

Here's First Cav playing with a Swedish chop saw:

Aircraft recovery team trains on chop saw | Article | The United States Army

 

[WoodBoss83]

If the date of the saw fits with the date of the case, I'd think it is a genuine Army one - otherwise not.....

The Contra has the 070 body which is what they did on the last years of the contra. The year 1965 which is on the box, would make it one of those later style Contras. I think it makes sense that it is the saw that came in the box originally, but I can't find any information on the net about these Contra saw kits. All I know is, that they are very rare.

 

[SawTroll]

The Contra has the 070 body which is what they did on the last years of the contra. The year 1965 which is on the box, would make it one of those later style Contras. I think it makes sense that it is the saw that came in the box originally, but I can't find any information on the net about these Contra saw kits. All I know is, that they are very rare.

That makes sence, but I am not really sure....

 

[buddie]

Sweeeeet......reminds me of a 1957 Corvette.

 

[Joe46]

This may be a dumb question, but I wander what the US military currently uses? Stihl or Husqvarna?

Not really My son is an 1st Class Equipment Operator in the Navy SeaBees. I've never heard him mention chainsaws, and I'm sure if they used them he would have said something. I have a feeling depending on the size of the tree they just use their D7 Cats and push them over. Not sure about the Army though. I will ask him though.

 

[MacLaren]

Not really My son is an 1st Class Equipment Operator in the Navy SeaBees. I've never heard him mention chainsaws, and I'm sure if they used them he would have said something. I have a feeling depending on the size of the tree they just use their D7 Cats and push them over. Not sure about the Army though. I will ask him though.

When I wrote that I kinda figured they would just push a lot of trees down. Thanks for the 411!

 

[sawbones]

If the date of the saw fits with the date of the case, I'd think it is a genuine Army one - otherwise not.....

that saw does not have a 1965 starter. the rivet on tag may have come
in 1967 on last contras and then the 070.

I also thought all contras sold in europe said contra on the top and not contra lightning.

I see some nice decals like that being offered on ebayde now.


embossed 106cc starter, Wayne Sutton collection.

 

[Teddy.Scout]

Rics info is correct!

I see a lot of assumptions on models or years.
Many changes acquired with all the models from the original 1106 model all the way to currently.
I can prove all of them, but many times parts were used up from the last change in production.

For example, clutches in the contras, chain drives in the 090G, clutch cover changes, starter covers, and like in the 070 pawls starter compared to the Morse style.

So to know a specific year may be difficult with all the changes, but you can definately figure out the model and know the era or years it was made.

Proof is a must, as Ric has shown, a lot of information is out there that is wrong.
I don't know how many times it has been said here, but I want to see a NEW 090 that is still being made!
There is knock off 070's, and have a 070 made in 2007. But I do not believe they are making the 090 in any model.

 

[dave k]

I have a mix of just Contra badged and Contra/ lightning badged saw's and in fact Im fairly sure that my ex army one is the latter, I assumed Ric, that the starter cover had been replaced and that OP realised this, Im not trying to pick holes in the saw and Im sure Ric isn't either but this is the strange world of the Contra.
Out of interest what year is the bar stamped ? As I said in my original post it's a nice saw and a nice kit.

 

[WoodBoss83]

I have a mix of just Contra badged and Contra/ lightning badged saw's and in fact Im fairly sure that my ex army one is the latter, I assumed Ric, that the starter cover had been replaced and that OP realised this, Im not trying to pick holes in the saw and Im sure Ric isn't either but this is the strange world of the Contra.
Out of interest what year is the bar stamped ? As I said in my original post it's a nice saw and a nice kit.

There is 1 66 stamped on the bar underneath the Stihl logo. I'm assuming that means Jan. 1966?

 

[dave k]

Yes thats it Jan 66 which of course tells us the year of the bar not a lot else in this case ? Although I think it's a saw that has had a later starter cover put on as a replacement, looking at the difference in paint colour, as I already said it's not important as it's great stuff it's only the fact that trying to build up info on Contra's can be hard because of the large volume produced in a short period of time can lead to confusion. Now let's see some action pics/vids !!!

 

[WoodBoss83]

After talking with a few AS members and other techs, I believe that the Contra in the kit is not original to the kit. I believe that the Contra should be green. But then again, they were producing so many different Contras, there is no telling what happened. What I think I have is a really nice military kit and a really nice Contra. Which brings me to my next question.....anyone have a green Contra they want to get rid of?

 

[young]

After talking with a few AS members and other techs, I believe that the Contra in the kit is not original to the kit. I believe that the Contra should be green. But then again, they were producing so many different Contras, there is no telling what happened. What I think I have is a really nice military kit and a really nice Contra. Which brings me to my next question.....anyone have a green Contra they want to get rid of?

still dope.

 

[WoodBoss83]

still dope.

Thanks man! I think both are still pretty rare.

 

[hamish]

Not really My son is an 1st Class Equipment Operator in the Navy SeaBees. I've never heard him mention chainsaws, and I'm sure if they used them he would have said something. I have a feeling depending on the size of the tree they just use their D7 Cats and push them over. Not sure about the Army though. I will ask him though.

The need for the military to use a chainsaw apart from disaster relief is nowadays very limited. Controlled charges, heavy equipment, tracks, use of jp8 and other fuels to heat quarters etc......not to mention the theatres of operation .......

Pioneer and Engineer assets still have them here but most are COTS (commercial off the shelf) and the Infanteer still uses and axe or a bow saw or demo