Stainless San Mai durability

[emtor]

I guess everyone here have seen stainless san mai blades.
Very pretty indeed, but since I haven't gotten around yet to try to forge such a blade there's one question I have no answer to:
-Are they suitable as a user or will the darkness of the 1095 steel wear off with use?
The darkness of 1095 comes, as I understand it, from the oxides created by the ferric chloride.
This happens mostly on the surface of the steel, so I would expect the effect won't be everlasting if the blade is used on a daily basis.
Anyone here with experience enough to provide me with an answer?
-Thanks . . .

 

[nmbarta]

The 1095 will end up looking like all other 1095 etched blades. It will patina over time and end up looking however it ends up, but it won't be clean black. It should still have good contrast as long as the heat treat on the stainless didn't ruin the stainless properties of the stainless steel. Even if that happens, you'll still have contrast. The pictures taken when they are finished isn't likely a good representation of what they will look like after years of use. That's the cost and beauty of simple carbon steels.....they're always changing.