That IS a nice looking Mod "94! (I'd guess we'd all say that about an unfired Mod "94 unless it was a movie prop or used for something other than its intended use). $300 seems like a very good price too. I'm thinkin' tho that unless you're 18 yrs old, it probably won't appreciate enough in actual value (you'd have to factor in inflation) in your lifetime to warrant NOT shooting it. Winchester may have tried to make it look like an older model i.e. a pre-64, but the fact remains that it is not. BTW, how are you determining the 1977 date of manufacture? I can't see the entire serial # in your photo but I'm thinking that the 1st number is a "4". The next two numbers look like "6 & 5" which would make its DOB in 1978. Not THAT important, just sayin'.
Very nice find, great price, I'd shoot it!
Sleeper

It's pretty common to see a Model 94 1 year off. The way the Serial Numbers run can be a little confusing.

Sounds like it could be the case here, but if he lets us know the first 5 digits, we would be able to tell for sure.

Bill

Here's the first five, 46549xx. Thanks for your input!

It does Decode to 1978.

There are a few different sites out there, but here is a real convenient one:

http://oldguns.net/sn_php/windateslooku ... in1894.dat

Bill

It shows 1978, good deal, thank you.

krimmie wrote:It shows 1978, good deal, thank you.

This is just my personal opinion (and worth what you're paying for it ) but I'm thinkin' that once you (the gun actually) crosses that 1964 line, newer post-'64 Mod '94 guns might be more desirable than the older post-'64 ones. It took a little bit for the "new" Winchester management to figure out that their cost-cutting moves tarnished the image more than a little bit. (I'm not so sure that having the newest of the new Model '94s made by a Japanese firm is a great move either )

Unfortunately for me, my '94 was made in 1968 which could very well be the nadir of the quality slide RE; the use of production shortcuts (mainly stamped and cast vs machined components). I'm not unhappy with my rifle tho. I'm sure that it functions just fine, it looks nice and is a piece of Americana with a great legacy!

Your 1978 Mod '94 Antique has all of these things AND more!

Again, nice find!

Sleeper