End pin for loar era snakehead

[bluegrassgm]

Sadly, I chipped the endpin on my '24 Snakehead Blackface A model and I was wondering if anyone could suggest where I could get either an oringal one (unlikely - I know) or a good quality repro one?

I have posted a wanted ad in the classifieds but thought I'd throw it out there to see what you kind folks on the message board might recommend?

Thanks in advance, Chris

[markishandsome]

How badly is is chipped?

[Gail Hester]

I make them and I believe Gary Vessel does as well. There may be others. The problem is in fitting them to an instrument without having it in-hand since they varied a little in size and taper.

[bluegrassgm]

It's not chipped so badly that it won't stay in the mandolin (or retain a strap) but it is chipped enough for me to want to replace it and not take the chance of the strap coming off. I would say about 1/3 of the end of the pin has chipped off but the shaft of the pin is still all there.
Hi Gail, I have been following your work on this site for some time... thank you for your input. Is there an email address that I can contact you diectly on? I'm thinking I'd like to buy one of your endpins and I'll do the final fit here. I think that might be the way to a more authentic result than my other option of trying a viola endpin.

Chris

[Gail Hester]

Chris, I sent you a PM.

[bluegrassgm]

I'd lke to round out this thread by lettting everyone know that Gail made me a beautiful replacement end pin that would be almost impossible to tell from a genuine Loar period one. It's now at home in my mandolin and looks like it belongs there. thanks again Gail!
..................
Chris

[mrmando]

Big ditto here -- she made one for me as well.