Light duty chainsaw recommendations

Get a small Stihl. you will be able o leave it to your boy.

Stihl 024

Stihl 024

+1

I think that is like mine.  I have a Stihl.   We had tree trimmers come to our ranch and clean all the low trees and brush off the road for fire safety reasons.   One guy with a compact, tiny Stihl cut as much as four guys could haul to the chipper.   He had one with the trigger on the top allowing for one handed operation.  We opted for the two hand "safer" version.   This saw is so awesome.   We like the tiny 12" bar for the small trees and brush we have but this saw is super strong and can take much bigger bars.   Every time we go somewhere to cut wood,  the dudes fight over this saw.   One guy even called it the "angry bee".   

Stihl is the best but very costly.   It was my third saw,  the first was a cheapo and lasted a year.  The second saw was a decent Husky, the last saw,  this little commercial Stihl will last my life.

Had a Stihl 038AV (anti vibration) for many years. Great saw. Son-in-law now has it after 23 years and still works great. I now have a Husquevarna and I'll never look back.
ALWAYS starts right up and cuts like no ones business.
EFF POULAN AND CRAFTSMAN!! They are the same saw, just different stickers.
I was doing some real wood cutting and the P.O.S. POULAN I had just purchased (because I was waiting for a part for my Stihl) would overheat and quit working. I'd have to stop, wait 20 minutes for it to cool down so I could cut another 10 minutes before it overheated again.
Husky will last and won't leave you standing over a job that needs to get done.

My best "small saw" is my pole saw.  With a 8' pole on it, I can reach in where I can't normally get to and I'm at a safe distance as well.  It has a 10" bar on it and a nice Husqvarna engine that starts every time. 

Wish I was closer, we'd knock that job out QUICK!