Metal Detecting Thread

Since this is my other hobby and don't see any other threads like it, I thought I would start it off.

All of these finds were found on my family's land in GA. We have quite a bit that will keep us pretty busy for a long time to come... There is everything from the Revolutionary War to the War of 1812 to the Civil War. Also, lots of plantations, etc., too...

Here are some pics of a few of my finds:

Confederate belt buckle and two "I" buttons. I have since found 2 more of the buckles and a few more of the buttons. Definitely my favorite so far...


War of 1812 Light Dragoons buckle - made of pewter. From research and all, only one of two known in existence...


1792 copper


For me, metal detecting is an addiction...

 

Nobody metal detects on here?

 

I do a little bit..I just don't have many places to go.

 

VA? One of the best states to detect!

 

To hell with you guys, HAHA. I have my Garrett coinmaster pro Tr discriminator from 1976 that weighs in at 100 pounds, or it seems like it after 5 minutes of swinging that beast. I used it this year and found a 14K earring with some sparkle rocks, 12 to be exact, all diamond chips. Then in my girlfriends back yard I found all kinds of coins under her big tree that her kids, and the neighborhood kids used to play in. THEN in her yard I found the spot she used to have a trampolene and that's where I found almost 15 bucks in clad coins. She lives in an old neighborhood, and on a cul d sac, I searched there and found old match book cars two dollar coins from the 1990's and some junk jewlery. More to tell Be right back phone is ringing off the hook.....

 

My my newest detector is a Whites Coinmaster Pro. I found a nice silver cross on the beach and an average outing I can find a couple of bucks on dry beach sand. My goal is to pay for the detector over the summer, which I am a long way from doing, but in the long run is to get a detector that will do better in wet beach sand or even in the water.., I'm not sure as to which detector i will go with. Either way KellyCo will get some money from me. By the way nice finds..

 

I don't have a tacoma yet lol, but I do have a garrett at gold metal detector and the garrett pro pointer.....don't have much time or many places to use it, but its pretty sensitive and finds anything...thankgawd I have a 4 yr old to use the pointer and dig em up! Only had them for a couple months and found nothing substantial...maybe a couple cheap rings and a bunch of coins, some bullet casings...and lots of garbage from sunglasses and dog collars to bottle caps and pop can tabs!

 

Thanks... FL is a pretty place to hunt - very active in everything from Rev War to the Civil War (well, Civil depending where you are)... you shouldn't have any problem finding where to go... Also, sure you already know about beach hunting - especially after big storms!

 

I need to train my son in the pinpointer, but being 3 my detecting time would be very limited...and not to mention that most of it is in the woods! What kind of bullet casing, modern or old (as in 100+)? I have a few Sharp's casings and Burnsides from the civil war..

 

Those are great finds. Fantastic CSA buckle ! Whats with the coin? I would swear it's a draped bust, but the date is off. Wouldn't think the Brit's put the word LIBERTY on a coin.
Metal detecting is why I bought my Taco. Gotta carry my stuff, and didn't like all the windows of an SUV. HH

 

You are correct on the coin - I had it in my file of those coins and wasn't named...

Thanks on the buckle - have two more back home, although slightly different along with a couple of Yankee buckles. Am absolutely addicted to detecting...we are moving back to the home area in Dec...I can't wait!

 

I've got a whites M6 matrix but I haven't used it in quite a while. It was fun but I just never really found a whole lot with it. I found a hand made chain and old hand forged D ring off a bridle. I also found a few coins, nothing old though. The pin pointers do make it a lot easier to find stuff though. I found the old chain and D ring on an old homestead.

 

Thats awesome. You should do some research into old home sites or any other historical stuff in your area - I am not familiar w/ any historical stuff from your area, but it shouldn't be hard to find out.

 

Some stuff I found on a recent trip home. We hit an old house site wayyyy back in the woods on my family's land. We will be rotating back to the area in December, so I will get to do a lot more hunting!

Silver (yes, real silver) thimble


1773 Reale


1175 King George

 

I have always been interested in metal detecting. The house where we vacation every year is on a small river and there is a metal detector there. I always spend a few hours detecting on the river bank. I've never found anything really neat but I love the idea that you never know what your going to find. I think it's a pretty cheap detector though. I have a detector on my Christmas list this year, is there a sub $200 detector worth recommending to my wife for her to buy me?

 

Honestly, the old saying applies - you get what you pay for. It will work and probably be good for a beginner, but if you plan on getting into it as a hobby (it's an addiction for me...) then you may want to rethink your choice. My two favorite brands are White's and Tejon - they both are great detectors and have several different models to fit one's price range. I have a White's MXT that my Dad got for me 5 years ago (it was around $800 then but similar, if not cheaper now) that I love - I know this machine like the back of my hand and have found a lot of things with it.

Used detectors may also be an option, too. There are a few detecting forum (findmall, treasure depot, etc., off the top of my head) where you can get a good used one for a great deal. Research is the key!

I find that White's is a great brand, but then again I am somewhat biased!

You say you hunt around a river bed? High ground near your place can be a great place for an old house site - look for old, big trees (big oaks are a good sign where I am from). Also, do some scouting of the area - any fields nearby? If so, look for glass or broken pottery (plates, cups, etc.) - this is a sure sign of past occupation...

Where do you live? Do some research - there are places to detect, it just takes a little time! There is a lot of good stuff in TN!!

 

I have a Whites XLT metal detector now. Before that I had a Whites 5900 DLPro.
I don't get many chances to get out detecting but plan to in the fall when it cools down. Anyway . . . I have a Bigfoot coil for sale that I've personally never used. It came with my XLT when I bought it. It will work on any of the 6.59mhz Whites units like the Pro, Eagle, XLT and others. These are very hard to come by. I'm asking $300 shipped anywhere in th US. If anyone is interested or if you have any questions., PM me.
Thanks
Hoss
iPad won't let me add photo . . . Will try laptop.

 

I had a Whites 5900 - thing got heavy after a day of swinging! Never have used one of those coils...I have a large double-d that I like to use when the areas are more trashy, but for general detecting I like the stock coil that came with my MXT. That has got to be the easiest detector ever to learn - like a pick up and go! I have been using it for so long I learned how to get the best out of it - damn good detector that serves me well! I really like Whites out of all brands and their customer service is top notch!

 

people have told me you can get arrested for relic hunting on someone elses property or govt land

 

Private property w/ owners permission is OK. The only place is govt land (national parks, etc.). I have hunted in VA several times w/ a few friends and never have been harassed, bothered, or questioned in any shape or form. As long as you have permission, all is good. In fact, if you check some of the forums - they have big hunts in VA (I have been to one where 50 - 60 people showed and hunted in a huge field/wooded area. A LOT of stuff was found, too...). The last time I hunted in VA was a few months ago...