Well I finally got up my nerve and took the performance test. Pretty much nerve wrecking but I passed. I went down and spent a few days in MS Tim Potier shop and worked on handles and Guards with him. He had some neighbors come by so I forged a blade in front of them.and decided to finish it out and test it since I was already there. I figured I had another year to test 2 more times before 2016 blade .so nothing to lose. My spine was pretty thin 1/8 thick. I built it thin to bend. More or less a butcher knife shape ..Bending was the area I was most concerned with . Thin blade took for ever to get 2 x 4 chopped , she was sharp and making clean cuts but no real weight behind it..She wasnt pretty, duck tape for handles.. but it passed.. thanks to Tim for letting me take the test at his shop and all the great help with my handles and guards.... Mike