Metal Detecting

[*bengalfan74*]

Any metal detectorists out there ? I've wanted to do it for years but just recently got started, about a year and a half now.

Always been a big history nut. Haven't really found anything super valuable yet but bunch of pretty cool stuff.

[SunsetBengal]

Never really used a metal detector, in the fashion that you are likely using. However, as a Surveyor, we use magnetic locators to find property corners. It's basically a metal detector designed to find objects containing iron. Anyway, along the course of our work, we often uncover old tools and items that may or may not have some historical significance. But typically we find typically find a lot of insignificant junk..

[HarleyDog]

I've thought about it. Last year they excavated a property behind my house to build a house on. Man, there were several people going through the dirt for several days and I couldn't figure out why? Well, after I got a closer look, the ground used to be a landfill decades ago and has been part of the High School grounds. Poor guy who bought the land has had a lot of issues with broken glass in the yard. Kinda sucks because its going to cost him about 10k to get new dirt and sod to cover it all up. There's probably some interesting things to find if the masses who swarmed it immediately after excavating didn't already find. LOL.

[*bengalfan74*]

(12-29-2017, 09:07 PM)SunsetBengal Wrote: Never really used a metal detector, in the fashion that you are likely using.  However, as a Surveyor, we use magnetic locators to find property corners.  It's basically a metal detector designed to find objects containing iron.  Anyway, along the course of our work, we often uncover old tools and items that may or may not have some historical significance.  But typically we find typically find a lot of insignificant junk..

My detector discriminates iron out, lol. I can turn it on and in a lot ot the old sites we detect it just goes crazy ! Old tractor parts, nails, etc.

As soon as I can figure out how to post pics on here I'll show ya some old cool stuff. Ive found 3 or 4 old cap guns for example. Some old store tokens, Indian head penny, old unknown things, etc.

Haven't broke my silver coin cherry yet but I've found a ton of clad ! Modern coins.

[*bengalfan74*]

(12-29-2017, 11:09 PM)HarleyDog Wrote: I've thought about it. Last year they excavated a property behind my house to build a house on. Man, there were several people going through the dirt for several days and I couldn't figure out why? Well, after I got a closer look, the ground used to be a landfill decades ago and has been part of the High School grounds. Poor guy who bought the land has had a lot of issues with broken glass in the yard. Kinda sucks because its going to cost him about 10k to get new dirt and sod to cover it all up. There's probably some interesting things to find if the masses who swarmed it immediately after excavating didn't already find. LOL.

It's a lot of fun. Of course there's a bunch of digging pull tabs, cans, etc. But it pays off when it's something really cool.

[*bengalfan74*]

https://pauldiles.smugmug.com/My-First-Gallery/i-sL96Wmf

Here's an interesting little unknown ? It's old, likely brass has that patina. I've had a couple people say it may be some kind of sewing implement ?

[*bengalfan74*]

https://pauldiles.smugmug.com/Met-Det-2/i-KccDMhz

Here's some more,

First photo on left is early 1900's army jacket button, 2nd photo is from internet search for it.

3rd and 4th pics are Morris/Hickey store trade token. Tokens of this type were very common in late 1800's early 1900's/

Last photo at top is silver ring. Then an old flat button on top left, Royal Crown casino token, from Cincinnati maybe 1950's, 60's ? Indian head penny 1890's. Army button again on bottom left, old broach perhaps ? on middle still has a few diamonds in it. And wheat penny on right.

I'll post more finds as I have time.

[grampahol]

I had a friend who used to run his metal detector along the beach in Long Beach in California. He did pretty good for himself. He always made enough to buy alcohol for us all along the Cherry Beach area..
He was the same guy who would catch and cook sea gulls.. If you've never tasted sea gull meat just imagine raw chicken left out in a plastic bag in your backyard for a few weeks in the summer time..
But hey, I was pretty close to starvation back in those days so it wasn't too bad considering everything.. I wouldn't recommend it being served on a first date or anything..lol 

[BengalHawk62]

My Dad and I dabble with his every now and then.  He's found old coins before, but nothing real expensive.  I found one of his old toy cars in the yard of the house he grew up in.  That was pretty cool.  He remembers that car, but not what happened to it.  His good friend found some old gold coins out in the farm field a few years back.  I guess back then the town held a carnival every year (1900s-1920s) where this farm field is now.  I wonder how much farm equipment he dug up first before he found that gold? 

[*bengalfan74*]

(01-04-2018, 10:50 AM)BengalHawk62 Wrote: My Dad and I dabble with his every now and then.  He's found old coins before, but nothing real expensive.  I found one of his old toy cars in the yard of the house he grew up in.  That was pretty cool.  He remembers that car, but not what happened to it.  His good friend found some old gold coins out in the farm field a few years back.  I guess back then the town held a carnival every year (1900s-1920s) where this farm field is now.  I wonder how much farm equipment he dug up first before he found that gold? 

Digging junk is just a part of it you have to accept lol. When I'm on an old house site I dig everything. If you don't you're taking a big chance of passing up something really cool ! I once had a super great signal coming up like 99 reading on my Garrett detector, this was at a 1890's house site. I was pumped thinking silver dollar. It was a small brass bell laying straight up and down giving off that good round signal. HAHA

Can slaw, aluminum cans chopped up by lawnmowers, pull tabs, rusty nails, the little foil tops off of juice bottles all give off signals like good targets. If I'm on a newer site like at a public park on the beach or something I'll often start passing some of those iffy targets.

I bet I've found a dozen or more ole matchbox/hot wheels cars and a couple of the old army jeeps and trucks.

I just hunt real laid back and lazy and I really enjoy it. My buddy I detect with is 20 years younger and detect's with a fist, I don't even try and keep up.

I'll post a small part of his coin finds today.

[*bengalfan74*]

Here's some match box cars, cap guns, and a small gold cross

https://pauldiles.smugmug.com/Metal-detecting-2/

[*bengalfan74*]

Here's just a tiny bit of my detecting buddies finds from this past summer. The coins which are just a small part of his collection from over the years. He's detected for about 10 years now.

The gold ring on the far left of first photo has a gold melt value of like $325, 350 somewhere in there. The 2nd photo is that ring on internet search. The third photo is real gold and diamond ring.

The last photo is silver coins, old nickles, large cents etc.

https://pauldiles.smugmug.com/Metal-Detecting-3/

[*bengalfan74*]

Here's my latest from a house site built about 1920 ? Didn't really find anything good, these are just clad coins (modern) match box cars, cap gun, pocket knife, probably 45 bullet. I've found lots of bullets.  My buddy did find a 1890's Indian head but nothing else really.

https://pauldiles.smugmug.com/Metal-Detecting-4/