I've just ordered a black EL01, but it won't ever be carried in public as you can get jail time for any blade longer than 76mm or any blade that locks. However, I'd like to know too.
I just wish Sanrenmu would produce a reasonably priced copy of the Boker Plus Trance 42. Its probably the best knife suitable as an edc in the UK. I just can't bring myself to pay the cost of the original.
Pics of extremely worn coating and high worn coating . I think it is safe to say that this some kind of Titanium nitride coating or something similar and not paint.
It's a black titanium nitride coating, and it's mentioned on a number of Sanrenmu's product pages. From experience, it's extremely tough - it should last a good few months in regular pocket carry before really showing wear.
I was lucky to find this picture on the British Knife forum, (pic not mine), the owner used it daily for 11months!! Not bad looking, the coating still looks great.