I have the feeling that it might be NOS as well...That is really cool. I like it.
Svord did quite a few variations on the peasant a few years back which are not on their website now. One was 12c27 steel in the blades. There were also different blade shapes.
I was busy at the time and put off getting the stainless version. I kick myself for that now.
I'm assuming that is from that time.