It's a lot like engraved knives, you have to worry more about how you clean them.
The black that is used for contrast when engraving can be cleaned away, same with the "ink" or whatever the proper term for the material used in scrimshaw is.
I almost always carry a sheath blade, I use this one now and then and carry it some when I don't want to be without.
But I don't take it when I'm working or on a heavy project.
But it's more due to fear of removing the "color" when I clean it.