Originally Posted by spider-man
It's a one-piece fork, and it's entirely possible that the paint decided to throw in the towel. The frame has had a hard life.
Luckily, it fell into the right hands.
Check the finish of the chrome on the top 3" - it might be slightly rougher then the crown or the fork ends. Either that or it might be smooth, hence the reason the paint flaked off. Have a photo?
Take care,
-Kurt