This is the replacement for the long-running 445, and the S suffix is the point: tool-less side chain tensioning, which is the one feature homeowners most often wish their Rancher had. Husqvarna also moved it up to a full 50.2cc while keeping the powerhead at 11 pounds, so it now sits in the same displacement class as the 450S Rancher for $50 less, giving up about 0.3 kW and the Rancher's heavier-duty air filtration. The old 445 is support-only on Husqvarna's site now, so cross-shopping it means buying leftover stock. Treat the 2.2 kW figure as the ceiling — this is a limbing and small-firewood saw, not a felling saw, and the 20-inch maximum bar is optimistic at this output. Worth knowing before you buy: the extended warranty is not automatic, it requires buying pre-mix fuel with the saw and registering online.

Best for: Property owners who want 50cc displacement and tool-less tensioning for the least money in Husqvarna's lineup.

Specifications

Engine class: 50cc class (by displacement)
Engine: 50.2 cc
Rated power: 2.2 kW
Bar length: 18 in
Bar range: 13-20 in
Single-pass cut: about 16 in (bar minus 2)
Chain: .325" pitch / .050" gauge (SP33G)
Weight: 11 lb, powerhead only (excl. cutting equipment)
Power type: Gas
Use case: Farm & Ranch
Warranty: 2-year residential, non-income-producing use (extends to 5 years with 96 fl. oz. of Husqvarna pre-mix fuel and online registration)
Model: 445S

Manufacturer figures except the engine class and single-pass cut, which are derived here. What each spec means

Tool-less chain tensioning
50.2cc at 11 lb
Replaces the discontinued 445

Where it is strong

Tool-less side tensioner — no scrench needed to retension a stretching chain
50.2cc for $450 is the cheapest route into Husqvarna's 50cc class
11 lb powerhead is light for the displacement, a quarter-pound under the 450X Rancher
Shares the .325/.050 SP33G chain with the Rancher saws, so bar and chain stock is interchangeable
Warranty stretches to 5 years if you buy pre-mix fuel at the same time and register

Where it falls short

2.2 kW is the lowest output of any 50cc saw Husqvarna sells — the 450X makes 2.5 kW
20-inch maximum bar is generous for the power on tap; 16-18 inches is the realistic working range
Residential warranty only — commercial and rental use voids it outright
No AutoTune, so altitude and seasonal changes mean a carb adjustment

Written from the spec sheet and the maker's documentation; owner reports for this model were too thin to summarize.