Wanted one for years,and finally broke down this week and got my first Metal Detector..Didnt get a top of the line on the first one to make sure its something I would actually get out and do.Practiced a couple of evenings in my backyard to get to know the machine..

Recruited my 5 y/o grandson this morning for our first real "hunt"..

First couple of finds were just trash and some slaw.But that first coin,his eyes really lit up..Another Lincoln less than a minute later and he was VERY interested...

Got a fairly large hit shortly after,and when it came up
(he was doing the diggin) it was "Papa,we found some treasure" as loud as a 5 y/o cal yell..




Looks to be an old (possibly) Silver pocket watch.. Found a few more coins,an old iron bell of some sort,and part of a matchbox car...


I think he's hooked..He's already called me twice this afternoon to see when were going again..

Good stuff!

I have fond memories of detecting with my grandpa.

Good stuff!

Cool Post.

Nice work Grandpa!

We all know what will be on the Christmas list this year. Great stuff.

Awesome !!!

Nice finds, that iron bell appears to be part of antique wind chime. We have one intact with a bunch of the lil bells on it.

My biggest find to date ever with the Garrett is this Gold Vinagrette box. The red sack wasn't included in the find, just something we keep it in...need to have it appraised.

Notice the 2 makers stamps inside the lid.

Good luck and happy hunting!

Great find Rip !!

I mentioned on one of the forums I thought it might be a wind chime,the old timers kept telling me it was probably a goat bell ??

Im still new to this and see the stamps on your lid, but dont know anything ??? Tiffany ?

Be a perfect time to hit those "party cove" areas around local lakes. Many a wedding ring has found its way to the bottom.

That's very cool. I have a lot around our old homestead. The best being an 1854 quarter dollar. It's habit forming.


For you young ones out there that little ring to the left of the bell is how we used to open our beers!

I bought a metal detector when I was young.All I ever found was pencils(metal band around the end)and assorted pieces of metal.If I did find a coin it was so worn you could not even see the date on it.

Is it true that you can't detect around lakes?

Rad .... that's great that you got your grandson going on detecting .... he will always remember the times with grandpa ...& good finds also

Kevster ..... it all depends on the local detecting laws... if your local laws allow it , now is the prime time to hit the lakes/swimming holes with lake levels being down .. Here in Austin , it's against the law

no city parks out here either....

Had an interesting day with the pocket watch... Took it to my next door work neighbor,the cash for gold /jewelry store. Told her I thought it might be silver and would she check..

Couple of tests later,she informed me it was not silver...Tested as 14 k white gold .......weighed a little over 2 1/2 oz.She said it has to have all the mech.. taken out and the non gold ring off before we could get a total weight on the gold portion..

Went back to the office,worked on it for an hour or so,and finally got all the guts out.Got back to the CFG store but she was gone..Owner came over and I told him what I needed...He weighed it..sure enough 1.3 oz... Had my visions of a couple of grand headed my way,but one scratch on the inner cover reveled "filled gold" ,not plated but white gold mixed with other metals..2 k went to 37 bucks real quick


Decided for that little ,it stays in the grandson and mine's treasure box...Still on the hunt..

Looks like a lot of fun. You might want to try under the metal bleachers at schools, I bet a ton of change has fallen underneath them.

Tried this with my nephews detector. Found a ton of old bottle caps and pull rings. I was sure something of value was there but gave up after an hour. May need to buy me...ugh I mean my son a new detector. haha

Don't know when they made that change? I found many a coin at Wagner and Tech Terrance parks. Found lots of stuff off the edges of tennis courts.

RAD-T, here is a pic of the windchime I mentioned. Maybe it will help your Grandson relate. Maybe they were goat bells? Never heard of one if what the old timers say is true.

Keep at it!

This ones for sale in the classifieds

http://texasfishingforum.com/forums/ubbt...ale#Post6580967

Ive had a good first few weeks with the MD but still looking for my first silver coin....Heck even my first wheat would be nice

Got a little chuckle when I dug this this afternoon...

Check some of the dry lake beds. My grandson does it and his latest find was a buck folding knife that will be in good shape after some cleaning.

Some very nice finds. But, the best part of it is you were with your grandson.

Very cool, metal detecting is a great hobby. You should check out www.coinshootingonline.com it's a Texas metal detecting forum by texans for texans! I enjoy getting out and digging up the past! Here are a few finds from last week





I found 2 Susan b anthony's a few wheat pennies from the 50s and almost $20 in regular clad!

Thanks Crago,,Ill check it out...

Looks like a good week to me !

No problem! Good folks and good information over there. It was a pretty awesome week! I love free money! All you gotta do is dig it up

Very cool story! Thanks for sharing!

Congrats on the metal detector and your finds. All I find is beer cans, and tabs.

Made my fist two REAL finds today...

Had sifted through more than 20 Lincolns this AM when I got a funny signal..Had a good point on the ground,but kept changing from high to low to med... Almost didnt dig it..Same hole less than an inch apart

By far my oldest,and can say that Ive ever seen one of those pennies till today

Lucky!

Nice Finds! I bought a MD early this year, and have not done much hunting yet. I tried in Galveston over Labor Day, but just dug up trash. I have not made the time to go detecting much yet, and I am not sure where I should go looking around Fort Worth area.

This is getting me excited though!

Corp of Engineer lakes are off limits, State parks are off limits, and city parks are at the cities choice.

School grounds and city parks in the fort worth area are all pretty much fair game. I have been detecting all over and have never had an issue. I have had a few officers question what I was doing though. I show them the trash and the treasure and they just leave me be. Anything in question will require a phone call to proper authority. City hall, property owner etc.

http://www.metal-detecting-ghost-towns-of-the-east.com/metal-detecting-in-texas.html

This cover Texas Parks & Wildlife property

OK, I stand corrected on the COE lakes. It depends on each officer in charge. Here is the ruling for Benbrook Lake. I don't know any other rulings.

http://www.swf-wc.usace.army.mil/benbrook/Recreation/Title36.asp

I used to do this in my younger years with my Dad, some good times. We would go to old churches at night. We ALWAYS cut plugs and put everything back the way it was too. We found lots of old coins, rings.

Ohn and those old rings, we called them pull tabs, boy did I hate those things.

I am not an expert by no means and technoligy has come far since I did it almost 25 years ago. But one important thing that did and learned is that we went at it methodicaly, meaning always a straight line and do small sections, like squares, do a 180 and go back. Keep short side to side sweeps, always overlaping each one a little and try to overlap the path you just left. Two big other keys is that we always kept the trash that we dug, removed it from the site and visited the same area multiple times at different times of the year. The soil does funny things when the weather is different, rain, dry etc. I have gone over areas multiple times and keep find new things.

Heres a story of one of my finds: I was detecting at my middle school next to the Tennis courts, grades 3-5. I was a Senior in HS. I found a class ring from the School. It was a ladies class ring. Well ther were not a name in it but initials. So I went to the year book in the library and did a little research. Lo and behold it was the my principal when I was in Primary school. Holy [censored], called her up and started a discusion. She had lost the ring like 25 years ago and could not beleive that I had found it. I happily returned the ring to her as it meant more to here than me. Besides class rings dont fetch a lot of dough anyway. That was not on my mind at the time. But a great story indeed.

One time we were detecting out in the middle of this field with mesquite trees etc and we came accross an area, still standing, where it appeared they add c0ck fights. The roofing tin on its side and in a square. Well, I found a 1908s barber dime in the middle of no where, go figure LOL. Good times. That is for sure.

Good luck in your treaure hunt and remember to always cover up your holes. I have found out that that is what has ruined for all others.

Leave it like you found it.

Found my first two Foreign coins ..

Sure is a lot of fun:

Holy Cow !!!!!

That is some awesome jewelry Hooker..

Ive only been at it a month now,but have yet to find my first ring of any kind..Ive hit a couple parks,little at a school, some newly torn down houses,and a camp ground..

Most of the big jewelery guy's Ive seen are beach hunters.

What type of area did most of your finds come from ??

What is a good starter model for a detector? My dad and I have been wanting to do this for a while.

Well that depend on your pockets really, how much are you looking to spend? I would suggest looking about 150-200 for a Good starter detector. Whatever you do, stay away from pioneer EX, cabelas has them and it is the worst detector I've ever used. It's $130 and its probably not worth $15 with the frustration it brings. Go to www.coinshootingonline.com and there are a few guys that deal detectors, they can give you a cut rate and a lot more information.

Jwilson1987,

A great unit (Use and price)is the Garrett 250, www.Garrett.com

Radtexan,
We do a lot of water (Lakes) detecting.

As far as those shown, we now have 4 display cases full, and do better then $600.00 per year in coinage.

Keep up efforts, you will find!!!!

My best advise, Find and attend Metal Detecting club meetings.

In two weeks found over $30 in change and a sterling silver ring!

Ive only been detecting for two weeks btw.

While cleaning up some Lincolns I found yesterday,one was a little out of place...Worked on it some more but not too aggresive.Figured out it was an Indian head but coulndnt read the date till I got to work and my magnifying glass..

Pretty rough shape and the backside is gone,but 1882

LUCKY!!! Ahhhhhh!

You'll find ya one Jeff..

Nice Find! I am going to have to get out and do some searching with my MD!

KEEPER!!!!'

Congrads

As we say "Pocket it, FAST."

Wow, really cool find. I have done alittle detecting with a friend both found nothing special.

Found this silver ring yesterday and this silver medallion today at the same location!

Dang Jeff,you are on a silver roll lately Congrats

Im headed out in the am for my first beach hunt.(if I can call it a beach) Hooker inspired me with the jewelry !! Low sensitivity,and dig everything

More silver tonight!

Good luck!!

Nice backdrop

haha thanks!

great finds everyone ...every once in awhile I step over to this place to see some great finds also .... alot of very experienced guy & gals finding some great & not so great things

http://forum.treasurenet.com/

Only had about a 30 minute window to hunt after church today,almost didnt go for that short of a trip ,but sure glad I did...Handfull of clad and my first merc,just as it was time to head out......