Funky problem with Cocobolo-handled Queen

[ivan_yulaev]

I recently got myself a Queen #9 Stockman in D2...I'm loving the knife a LOT. However, one thing bugs me about it...the handle, on one side, has some very deep grains, which seem to be filled in with some sort of black filler (stain or something). Well, I noticed in some of the deeper ones, the stain was 'falling out' and leaving a bright yellow crack! It's not very noticable, but is this normal?

 

[knifeaholic]

I suspect that the black stuff might be buffing compound, leftover from finishing the handles. I have a number of the cocobolo Q's and have never seen this problem. If the "cracks" are deep, you may want to send the knife back to Queen.

 

[ivan_yulaev]

They don't seem to be very deep, just deep enough to nick my nail into. They're not really cracks, just seem to be grains in the wood, because each is about 1cm long at the most.