The crappy photos are causing a lot of confusion here. This is cross-hatched background work. It is a quick way to background inexpensive engraving. It is cut with a V graver and looks kind of like checkering. If you zoom in on photo number 7, you can see the straight lines. Stippled backgrounds are very random and fine in appearance. Punched dot backgrounds do not create the straight lines, seen in photo number 7.

Steve Culver
Steve Culver Knives