Mike or Junko have you checked how hard the edge is? Just run a file up against it and see how it bites. Or my fave is to see how my medium India stone bites into it.(It doesn't bite well into anything above RC 58) If it is harder than the spine then at least you know it's hardenable. Peters Heat Treating has a laser metal analyzer and for a small fee I am sure they wouldn't mind telling you what the cleavers are made of.
Of course you may not want to go to that expense which of course I understand. I'm just intrigued as to what kind of steel they are. Bet it's 1075-65 or 5160 if they are that old, any markings about where they were made? Those handles look like some decent wood made before the advent of the common dishwasher available everywhere. I live alone and have used mine only when my grandchildren visit.
