Thank you for the comment Priscilla. It's nice to have you participate. There is so much to be learned on the forum.
Well, now I'm on the fence as to the covers on this knife. Maybe I do see a bit of "natural rippiling" on the surface excluding all the scratches over the years.
However, there are three cracks in the covers at the pins on each end. Two at the large and small ends on the mark side and one at the small end on the pile side. I show that one in the picture. So,---- does tortoise shell crack like that?
Thanks for your comments Sheffieldguy and Lee. I know you guys can solve this

---- 'cause I can't.