Joe, it would have been polished when new . That's the point it's old and time and environment have taken its toll . Take for example an old Damascus barrel that has never been touched and not particularly well card for and you will see that the surface has been "etched" away on the softer irons . I am not a metallurgist but I have seen many guns with similar marks and I do know if you pickle an old action to remove rust you often see a whole raft of similar lines that need to be struck out prior to re engraving or re hardening . I do not believe these are scratches.