I like the 97 a lot. I don't have any problem with them cutting my hand but many people do. Everyone grips the guns a little differently.
I usually lighten the hammer spring some on a 97 to make the action function smoother. It takes some of the hammer camming action off off the bottom of the bolt when it's retracted so it operates easier. Makes for less wear and if there is some bolt wear at that point, it won't be as much of an issue in closing the action with less upward hammer push while it's sliding forward.
The ejector/spring is fragile. Just a small bent flat spring L shaped piece that fits into the left side of the frame and held w/a screw. The tip can be broken off and you won't know it unless you shoot the gun. Just a quick look over , you won't see it. The larger part is still attached to the outside of the frame. Replacements (aftermarket) are available now thanks to Cowboy Shooting. The last couple I got seemed a bit brittle yet so I drew them back a little more and they seem to work well.
Worn cartridge stops can be a problem. Shells won't stay in the magazine,,or usually the problem is an extra jumps out of the mag as you are feeding one into the chamber. Sometimes it's just 100yrs of grime behind the stop & spring. But they do just plainly wear out at the small edge that catches the shell rim.
They crack the stocks at the wrist a lot. The fit up is like a M12. A through bolt with the stock fitting over a tapered extension from the back of the recv'r that the stock bolt threads into.
Things get loose, oil soaked and that tapered extension gets to act like a wedge and the wood splits.
I can't recall what the chamber length was on these (12ga) but it's not a bad idea to measure it anyway.
Some have been lengthened over the years by well intending people to make sure they are 2 3/4".
The problem is that they just take the bbl assembly and stick it in a vise and run the reamer in to the 2 3/4" mark.
What they have just done is chambered the gun to 3".
They forgot or didn't realize that there is a chamber extension ring in the receiver (as there also is in the M12) that is part of the chamber length. It's about 1/4" in length and has to be taken in to account when measurments are taken or any cutting is done.
TD is the same as the M12. Check it to see if it's still at the beginning of the take up or where it may have been adjusted to. If it's at the end of it's usable adjustment,,you have to decide if it's still tight and will stay that way for your purposes.
They used to sell different TD thread rings (1 thru 4 I think) for all the pumps including the 42 to be able to tighten them up again when the original factory fitted one ran out of adjustment.
None of these problems with a solid frame gun of course.
Check the 1/2 cock to make sure it's secure. It's your only manual Safety.
There is a firing pin safety inside the bolt. It blocks the firing pin when the bolt is unlocked and then disengages when the bolt is locked. Supposed to keep the gun from firing w/o the bolt being locked. It can fail though. Either through the parts them selves or just dirt and rust.
With the bbl assembly off the frame, slide the pump handle back and take a close look at the slide rod. Make sure it hasn't been twisted and restraightened,,welded on,,and especially the end hasn't been brazed or welded on to rebuild it 'just so it works'.
