I would say a definite YES!
Now it may be chromed or it may be even worse: nickel plated.
Nickel plating would be more difficult to get off than chrome, and would need lots of grinding and polishing. I say this from experience - I have taken off nickel plating off of several before. It was a practice in the 19c into the early 20c.
Besides, if you want to etch and see the pattern in the steel, you need to get rid of this plating.
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