UK METAL DETECTING

austin · Joined: 30 Jun 2007 Posts: 65

I may get flamed for this, but I get a strong impression that American detectorists have little or no interest in history and archaeology, and are only interested in finding as much jewellery as possible. Even in a very "new" country such as the US, historical detective work will still get you onto hot sites - in their case early 18th century colonial stuff and Spanish treasure wrecks. Even in the UK, which is supposedly saturated with history, there are plenty of totally barren areas, and historic research still gives you a real edge in getting goodies out of the ground.

Austin Smile

Gary uk · Joined: 08 May 2007 Posts: 73 Location: Buckinghamshire

I think most American detectorists are passionate about US history especially the civil war period, it is more than likely they find it harder to relate to our early history because they are not a part of it.

The beach hunters do like the bling I guess it is easy pickings on the popular beaches.
If you look at the Spanish Gold ring Gary (1715 Hunter) found worth over $150.000
Gaz

Spanish 1715 fleet treasure ring

1715Hunter · Joined: 22 Jun 2007 Posts: 130 Location: South Florida USA

I think a lot of it is where in the US you live and what your hunting for, I have to stick up for American detectorists as I know quite a few people who are nuts about the old stuff, after all look how many Americans are flocking to the UK on the detecting tours, it certainly isnt for all the 9k bling bling on Cleethorpes beach, its for chance to find something really old. I myself am not into hunting for loads of modern gold jewelry and so I end up going hours without finding a thing combing the Spanish 1715 fleet wrecksite beaches on the off chance of finding a small silver reale which means a lot more to me than a handfull of modern jewelry. I get where your coming from but its a bit unfair to lump all US detectorists together.

cooter shooter · Joined: 24 Apr 2007 Posts: 3 Location: USA

My dream is to hunt in the UK my family are from linconshire I had a pm from another forum warning me about the the dig orgainisers who call overseas visitors detec-tourists and some finds are not genuine but placed in the soil to ensure our return the following year. will this be true or just someone with a beef against the dig organisers

UK Brian · Joined: 08 May 2007 Posts: 431 Location: Wales

You don't hear to much from the relic hunters on the general forums in the U.S. but they do a lot of research and make excellent finds.
Unfortunately many of the U.S. forums are like old biddy clubs where they take it in turn to post a picture of a modern find, pat each other on the back and ignore any outsider who has found something that is of age and interest.

I've more old Spanish coins and cannonballs from the States than I've ever found in Europe. Being to fond of VDI's, notch and not wanting to dig any rubbish is where many fall down and they do rely on 'there's nothing old in America'. Many relic and gold hunters have learned that the right equipment and an acceptance that some rubbish must be dug does lead to older and more interesting finds but they tend to be swamped out of the general forums where the number, not the quality of finds, seems to always come first.

1715Hunter · Joined: 22 Jun 2007 Posts: 130 Location: South Florida USA

Good statement Brian , if your not in the little circle and kissing backside of regular posters on the US forums your on the outside looking in. Its a numbers game also , how many gold rings have you found is one of the first questions you are asked upon meeting another detectorist on the beach, and also how high do you set your disc , it isnt unusual to see half a dozen "golf swingers" hunting the dry sand on popular beaches, the same people posting their tatty jewelry on the forums and getting the WTGs and high fives for posting junk. The good hunters dont need the pats on the back , they certainly dont post cheap jewelry finds and most times if they find something good you dont hear about it for a while not to mention posting pictures of the place they found it, I dont get that one? Hey, if hunting for modern jewelry looking at a display screen before deciding to dig as your notching out rubbish then posting your stuff for a pat on the back for a silver earing floats your boat, then go ahead knock yourself out !

malachite · Joined: 02 Jul 2007 Posts: 203 Location: The Toon

hi gang... well nto one for jewelry myself but that ring is a eye popper init... a total belter indeed

ziggie · Joined: 24 Apr 2007 Posts: 66

Hi malachite welcome to the forum, yes that ring is very nice.

Zig

UK Brian · Joined: 08 May 2007 Posts: 431 Location: Wales

Was that your post on the U.S. forum Austin, re this topic, (by Austin 1) that seemed to upset 'bottlebum' so much ?

rayredditch · Joined: 03 Jul 2007 Posts: 222

1715Hunter · Joined: 22 Jun 2007 Posts: 130 Location: South Florida USA

It dosnt take that much to upset some of the regular posters on the US forums, especially if you have a difference of opinion on a machine they use, I remember Brian getting his Disney pass revoked for daring to suggest that the Sovereign models are a better option than the Excalibur for beach hunting.

rayredditch · Joined: 03 Jul 2007 Posts: 222

Seems rather trivial, in fact childish. Over here most have a lot of banter about how good their machine is against another, and two weeks later change it Laughing

UK Brian · Joined: 08 May 2007 Posts: 431 Location: Wales

I'd forgotten about that. The bloke wanted to detect wet sand but had no interest in going into the water. They pushed the Excaliber as the ultimate beach detector. I said he could save money and get better performance by getting the far cheaper Sovereign and spending the money saved on good headphones and another coil.
Some people went insane about it but I guess they think more expensive means better.

dowserbill · Joined: 28 Aug 2007 Posts: 7 Location: Glenrothes Scotland

Hi, I treasured hunted in the USA for 50 plus years and histroy was always my love. I have found many great civil war artifacts and donated them to the local history museum! I now live in Scotland and am thinking on getting back into metal detecting, I will need a light detector as I fractured my hip a while past then had a blood clot in it. Bill

UK Brian · Joined: 08 May 2007 Posts: 431 Location: Wales

There's a good choice in lightweight machines nowdays with Tesoro, XP or even the T2 or Fisher F75.
Being Scotland with some funny soil conditions I should try and find out what performs in your area. I took a really hot machine up the west of the country some years back and it wasn't worth a lite.

Brian