Rod,
The knife is old yeller. The grain changes, in appearance, over time with the darkening..."plus"...micarta cut from different lots or on different sides would explain yours looking...well...different!
Mike,
I though I would let James-N-Crew have a go of it. We'll see. If it works out well. It may very well be a solution for folks that have an old Randall in ivorite that has been darkened on 1 side only.
Best, Capt. Chris