Metal Detector’s Blog

I was searching in a small patch of a garden that’s not far from where the old garrison once stood on the original farm in 1650. The owner of the property often drives his tractor along the side of the corn garden to access his field, and by chance I decided to go over the area with my Minelab Explorer II. . .
“I’ve considered myself a Metal Detectorist for about 30 years. On and off since the 1970’s, I had given the hobby up for several years and started getting back out there in 2003. About a mile from my house, in beautiful New Hampshire, there is a farm owned by wonderful folks. It’s run full-time, ‘round year – they grow produce in the summer and Christmas trees in the winter.

Last fall they gave me permission to hunt their property and I’ve spent a lot of time out there. I’ve even found many large coppers and some really old 1700’s pewter spoons. But my best find was something all together different and very, very old.

I got a strong signal and after digging about 5” deep a silver buckle popped out. I didn’t even clean the mud off until I got home, but when I did I recognized it right away. I cleaned it under running water and saw a beautiful, small silver shoe buckle that was used from 1650 to 1720. The chape and tongue design are noted in several reference books as those of the Tudor-Georgian period.

I showed the owners and they were really happy to see that piece. They’ve encouraged me to hunt the farm as often as I would like and as a gift to them I hand-painted a beautiful 1800’s bottle to display in their shop. This is the only silver buckle I have ever found there, but it is also one of the oldest pieces in my collection.

Ed in New Hampshire

“Metal detecting started out as something for me and my wife to do with our children when they were little. Living in Florida, we would take the family to the parks and beaches. I would detect while they played, and often they would help dig. Now that they’re older my wife and I have more time to treasure hunt and we truly enjoy the hobby.

For about a year now I’ve been using the Minelab Excalibur 1000. My wife and I both have one and we are both completely hooked on surf hunting. Since July of 2006 we have found approximately 4ounces of gold, 75 rings (27 of which are gold), a platinum ring, several earrings, necklaces and rosaries.

But one of my favorite finds, and most valuable, was found earlier this year just a few inches into the soft, dry sand of the surf…

My wife and I started the day on the beach with our Excalibur 1000’s and a long handled scoop. We ventured into the wet sand and spent about an hour looking when I got a good signal. I started digging and there, just a few inches into sand was a diamond pendant known as a “Circle of Life.” Seeing those 28 diamonds glitter and realizing they were real, well I was excited to say the least After testing it with a gold tester and getting input from a professional jeweler, we’ve found out that its value is about $3,000.00.- Paul B.