John, Wrangling with this kind of problem can be mind boggling. Here is my take. First if knife does not have a crack then great your good to go. Next if you think there is a crack will you be comfortable sending it to a customer? These are questions you have to decide the answers to.
Has this happened to me? Yes and I didn't notice the crack ? until I had finished the knife. As this pained me I destroyed the knife only to discover that it was actually a 100 grit scratch
. The positive out of my situation was that all things considered. My knife passed the destructive test. Sometimes we have to take one and do just that. I would rather destroy a knife in my shop than send one out and have it fail in the customers hand.
Good Luck and let us know how this turns out
Bing
MLazyB Custom Knives
ABS Journeyman Smith