CannellaIt is not competely through, but it through most of it. The pattern is 2 different steels welded together in a pattern (pattern-welded damascus steel) that are then acid etched. It is not paint or anything of that nature. It will not come off.
CannellaThere is a description in the 2nd paragraph, but here is more information on it: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Santoku.
But to answer your other questions, no, it won't come off, and it's layered, so yes.
But to answer your other questions, no, it won't come off, and it's layered, so yes.