im skeptical about the quality, they dont mention what blade steel it is made of.
It's probably the Krupp equivalent of 5160 steel, mostly sourced from worn out Mercedes commercial truck leaf springs which find their way to the scrap dealers in Northern India. 5160 is considered a high end steel among custom knife makers and has excellent qualities, it's also quite tough which is particularly important for large knives and swords. The Nepalese blacksmiths (Bishwakarmas, also called Kamis) cross the border and make regular pickups of the source materials, including the wood for the hafts and sheaths, buffalo horn, brass, rivets and tacks, etc.
I've done a spark test and can confirm the steel certainly sparks in the same color range as 5160. The impressive part is the hardening and temper of the blade is zoned (differential), so the center of the edge, just short of the tip is hard enough that a typical file just skims the surface. The tip and ricasso are a bit softer, the panel of the blade and spine are progressively softer and very springy.
The blades are very thick, beaten to shape using the traditional forging techniques by teams of 3 or 4 men, the bigger examples take a full day to make. Every example I've obtained from KHHI thus far was well made (I have only ordered custom thus far from the Katmandu factory, your mileage may vary) and well heat treated. The edge on the Sirupate I just obtained has only needed light steeling on a butchers steel to restore it's edge after significant yard work including hacking up rotted out trellis, a dead very well seasoned fruit tree and broken poles used for supporting the trunks of young trees that have since outgrown them.
I'd suggest buying one of the cheaper examples, like the Jungle Panawal and having a go of it. The prettier versions are too nice to use, but the working blades without the mirror finishes or slippery, waxy hafts make great working tools and take quite a beating and can be easily tuned up with a Chakmak or a butchers steel.
Good luck,
-E
