046 blows it away, but it is also heavier.That's what I paid for mine. If in good condition, that saw is worth it and so is the one shown above. My 046 performed flawlessly yesterday in big maple with a 25" bar. I've pulled a 32" with it on occasion. I imagine a good-running 440 would do the same trick.
Now a 460 cylinder on a 440.
I enjoy my 044, buy it's really not in the same class as an 046 when you start running larger bars.
Here's the 460 with a 25 on some white oak I cut cookies with for a landscape project, I would not have cut lots of 20"+ cookies with my 044 unless I had no other options. Also I still have the bar cover lol.
Hope your buddy is liking his new saw.