I see mention of Stihl a lot...don't really disagree. I have several and the pre China Stihls are wonderful...
As were husqvarna johnserd..
But my old JD...echo is probably the best most precision saw ever made...echoes of that era had a very unique whistle sound to them...
I was talking to a chainsaw guy who has worked on saw his whole life and was a dealer for mculloch johnserd and later Stihl...
He claimed they were so precition made they would run without a piston ring.. Don't know if it's true but mine had been in use since I bought it in the mid 80 s and have not done more than a sparkplug...it's the only saw I have never worked on...I prefer the lighter Stihl or husqvarna .but quality of workmanship on the old echo won't be topped..