I just inherited one of these from my Grandfather. He passed on at the age of 99 and wanted each of his Grandsons to have one of his guns. So I got one of the shotguns.

This was a working gun and since my Grandfather was a farmer most his life it has accounted for a huge number of pheasants, ducks, geese, rabbits etc... And it unfortunately shows its time in the field. Not a bit of bluing left, hairline cracks in the stock, some serious nicks and gouges from bouncing along in tractors and trucks. In other words, it looks like hell but seems to function fine.

I'm going to have a gunsmith look it over and if he says it is good to shoot I plan on playing with it some. Not sure if I want to do much to it though. After all, it was Grandpa's.

Peace Y'all

Other than being heavier than what we are now used to - the 97 was a natural pointer and great shooter
Hope it allows you some of the pleasures that your grandfather enjoyed.

My grandpa bought all of his grandsons a model 97. Great gun I still take mine out every once in a while a chase a couple birds with it. My brother got one is 16 ga with a mother of pearl inlay in the grip. Out of all the guns I own that would be the last one I'd ever sell. Enjoy your '97

Actually now is a great time to have a 97. They are very popular with the cowboy crowd as it is the only legal pump for cowboy shoots. Wild Bunch action shooting allows the 97 and now Winchester 12.
That means gunsmiths who can make it feed and function and spare parts are available.
I shoot a 97 that was given to my father by his best friends wife upon his death. When my father died it came to me. Like yours, I know it has hunted a lifetime and now it gets shot every weekend at a cowboy shoot.

Just picked up a mint 16 bore 97 that I may play with a bit and move down the road. Third 16 97 I've owned and they are recoil friendly compared to the 12 bore.

Pirate's:

I love the '97. My great aunt left me her husband's (my great uncle's) M97 "goose gun" when she died. Sounds about like your gun. No finish; it had been well-used. Nevertheless I cherish it because of its provenance.

It has a 32" full choked barrel. One might think that is useless today. I used to take it dove shooting. My father chewed me out repeatedly because I liked the birds at 35-40 yards. And I smoked them with that old gun. Close was tougher and that didn't leave much for other shooters.

Enjoy it. Don't change it. Advice worth what you paid for it.

I have my Dad's '97 16 gauge, one of my most cherished possessions.

Found this picture recently of dad in the first deer season around here. The '97 is with dad's buck on the right.

I bought my 32" full choke 97 in 1969 when I got home from the army for $25. I was young and the pheasants were plentiful, I shot clay targets, rabbits, ducks, squirrels, and pheasants. Reloads are all I ever shot in it including the deer slugs. The bluing is gone but other than that its still in good shape, just looking at it brings back a lot of fond memories.

Make sure the gunsmith checks the chamber size. A lot of 16s were 2&9/16" and early 12s 2 & 5/8ths.

Respect the gun and stick with low brass and no modern hard deer slugs.

If a 97 comes apart (it has happened) it puts the bolt right thru your aiming eye, into the brain.... generally DOA.