The Pilot has a Black Phosphate coating on the blade, its not paint.
From the way it sounds, eventually you are going to put more scratches on it.
I just retired my Marine knife last year (it also has the Phosphate coating on it). I put it into service in 1984. I scratched it, hammered with it, and dug holes with it. Once I left it stuck in a tree for a few days and a chipmunk or mouse chewed a little off of the leather handle. To this day I have not hurt the function of the knife, its still a life taker and heart breaker.
A good knife and a good woman only get better with age.
So a few scratches; spray some Remington oil on it and use it some more.
Tom
Chestnut Ridge Knife Shop