I am by no means an expert, but having owned a dozen or so EK knives I would bet that this is a refinished knife. I have a similar knife and the guard is a stamped rectangle of steel, and mine has wood handles. At the time I bought mine from, I think, The Cutlery Shoppe, they had a version with paracord handle and brass guard. All were either a dull parkerized type finish or a semi polished finish. Either way, they are hell for stout knives.

__________________
Have Canon, Will Travel