No it is not true...steel is steel...coated blades just have a rougher finish underneath...they are hardened the same as a satin or double cut finish...you can strip the coating and put a finish on the steel underneath...many of us do this on Bussekin knives...certainly on Busse's as they have a very high mark up on a satin finish. "Porus" is not an expression I have ever heard applied in this manner...others can comment on this who might know more...sounds well...a mistaken opinion to me.