Thanks for the suggestion and looking Dom!
I started to remove the leatherette, but then stopped because I figured out all the screws that I needed to take things apart were already available. Everything is loose except this handle which won't go through the cover. I thought that the metal ring in the leather might stay with the interior, but when I got everything loose the leather covered part is all one piece, it is just this handle that is keeping the back from coming off. I am certain that removing the leather covering won't reveal anything that will allow the camera to come apart without removing this handle.
I searched quite a bit online for how to get this camera apart and unfortunately there isn't a lot of information. I was hoping someone had needed to replace this handle and I could see how it was attached. I took it to an technician who does a lot of similar work and although he isn't familiar with this camera in particular he is fairly certain it is a press fit washer holding the handle onto the shaft. He says to carefully pry it off and the handle will come off. I'll give that a try and at the very least if I find it is not that way when I do it I can share that with anyone else online who might want to work on one of these cameras (almost no-one?)
I am thinking that you are probably correct about this being a parts camera, which is unfortunate.