The rotating, winged style safety was similar in operation to that found on the then-standard military rifle, the M1903 Springfield.

The rifle featured a stock made of plain uncheckered walnut with a pistol grip and finger grooves, and was a takedown design; the barreled action was easily removed by turning a screw under the stock using a penny (first-year models had a knurled thumbscrew that could easily be loosed by fingers).

In August 1937, acting on a suggestion by Adolph Topperwein, Winchester introduced a smaller version intended to be marketed as a child's first rifle.

This model featured integral scope bases mounted on the barrel and no provisions for iron sights.

[3] The scopes were boxed separately and attached to integral bases on the barrel by the rifle's buyer.

All telescopic sights were formally dropped in 1942 when supplies of optical glass were diverted to meet World War II arms production demands.

[3] In April 1940, Winchester introduced a special smoothbore version chambered for the .22 Long Rifle shot cartridge, featuring a 24-inch (610 mm) barrel and bead sights identical to those used on the Model 12 shotgun.

[9] The Boy's Rifle commands a slight premium, while the relatively rare .22 WRF and smoothbore versions are worth more than double the standard rifle, and the very rare Model 677 is worth nearly ten times standard value.