When it comes down to availability sometimes you just have to "bite the bullet" and make the item until an original comes along. In the restoration process I found out early that it is not the destination but the journey itself.
I must admit that while I can now (not very well) weld, bang metal, cut, burn n bleed and have liberally increased (or decreased) my vocabulary, I am by no means an expert. One of the pleasures is forming something by hand and mounting it on a vehicle. No one else will know the work/pain that was involved except perhaps your truck, car, gun or AFV. oops getting far to filisofical
Hang in there....your enthusiasm is most welcome from this newbie
cheers from Windsor
Mike Timoshyk