I currently have a Garrett GTA-350A computer model. Have found nothing major with it. My last detector found a watch and several gold rings enough to pay for itself several times. I want to find a gold coin one time, they have allways eluded me. Found mercs, wheats, quarters no halves or dollars as of yet but there is still a lot of ground to search. I have several civil war bullets I found in VA and SC and some other artifacts.
I got a detector last christmas (wal-mart special) and tried it out in the back yard.. As we only have been in this house 2 years, I was astonished at the junk buried in the yard from previous residents.. I found many tools, car parts, even a license plate from 1971. Several cents (no wheats), lots of nails and screws. I sure am glad to have done that before mowing season. My first detector found a several coins and jewelry, mainly around the schools near my house growing up. The best find was a set of pilots wings near a junior high..I have no idea how they got there. I guess some kid took them to school for 'show and tell'.
Detecting Is A Fun Hobby For myself, I own 2 metal detectors. One is a Fisher 1266-X (VERY Sensitive) and my other is a Garrett GTAx550. I have been an active detectorist since the age of 14 (I'm now 32), and I have been pleasantly surprised with my finds. Some of my best include: 1897o Barber Half 1895s Barber Half 1869 Two Cent Piece 1898 Indian Head Cent (in EF grade) Alas, I have not been lucky enough to strike gold, but I am very happy with the silver coins I've found. It's true though, that many coins dug from the ground have problems, that some older collectors may say "These are not really collectible", but I have found that most of my finds are quite acceptable for my own collection. Give metal detecting a try, if you really want a numismatic challenge. Best To All, Barry
My first detector was a gift from my Grandmother when I was about 10. I used it Christmas morning to find change that she had hidden in the driveway. That was probably the first and last time I used it. My second was a gift from my wife. It was the lowest end Bounty Hunter on the market. I was able to find a handfull of wheats, a silver washington quarter, a couple silver roos dimes, one Indian cent, a buff and a V nickel, a very old button from an Army uniform and a few very cheap jewelry items. That cheap machine brought me much pleasure. I upgraded to the second to the lowest end Bounty Hunter model and have found nothing but memorial cents :!: I have yet to get out and use it seriously though. One of these days ........... Jason
Hey guys, how much does a cheap detector cost? I just want to search at the beach as anywhere else would be practicly illegal in Greece! Even at the beach, I will need to get licence from the local PD.
Wonder if I could get some help buying one from the US as local stores carry only junk and at rediculously high prices not to mention they ask many strange questions! ... Jason??
I think your best bet would be to go Ebay. I see them selling on ebay for way under retail prices. You'd have to convince someone to send to Greece though. Bigg(head)Fredd sells metal detectors on ebay but his stuff is usually higher end. Let me know if you need any help Chris. Jason
I would like to know what to look for and have an estimate of prices before I go searching. Do you have any idea or can recomment anything? Also, I need someone who can send a detector to Greece!! Any help is always welcome!
My grandfather gave me a metal detector when I was about nine. He probably picked it up at a flea market or something (a big flea-market guy. It will take his heirs about 10 years to clean out the garage, I guess. It's a running joke in the family). I never found anything but bottlecaps and can-tabs, but the idea of starting again intrigues me. Like coinman, I would have absolutely no idea how to start. I also can't really afford it now anyway. Coinman, I think you should contact Big Fred. The last coin I won from him on ebay, he sent me a Garrett metal detector catalog free of charge. While some of them were VERY expensive, not all of them were. I think some were under $200. I bet Fred would send you a catalog if you asked him. It had a lot of info in it about different options and models and stuff...I would just send it to you, but I threw it out Sorry!
Everytime a metal detecting discussion comes up anywhere, I cringe. Not because I am not interested in it but actually because I am interested in it! I have looked at detectors and read up on them online and other places and it does interest me quite a bit. It sounds like fun even if I never were to find anything. However, I am just not yet ready to jump into another hobby. Especially when I know that I would want a pretty good detector and can't yet dump the moey into it. I had an elcheapo toy detector as a young kid and never found anything but I still remember enjoying it.
My only word of advice if you buy off ebay is that you get a return privilege with postage back. Stick to name brand detectors like Bounty Hunter, Whites, Garretts there are others. Radio Shack makes a low end detector $79.00 that will find surface stuff. My GTA 350 is for sale for $250 US as I want to purchase a Bounty Hunter Techno, retails at the 900 buck range, but not available across the counter yet. It has an optional nugget coil and I would like to try some prospecting metal detector style.
Stu, I got a great deal off of eBay on a Bounty Hunter Land Star (the Radio Shack re-wrap). RS had it on sale for $250.00, I got it on eBay for $190 PLUS the head sets, a dozen THing magazines (fun stuff) and a couple of books, the most useful was the Treasure Hunting Rules and Regulations for the 50 States. Each state is different, and some outlaw metal detecting on public land all together. I just get out into my backyard lately (a 4 year old and now a 4 week old to play with) but I find all manner of Wheaties and old junk in there. It is fun, after you get past the 7 or 10 dry holes you dig when you first get started using the thing.
My backyard would probably be a good place for me to go too. I live in an older house in the old part of town...just off the Historic District which dates back to the 1830s or 60's. I would have to drive up teh street and look at a sign to be sure. Eventually, I will get a detector. It is just a matter of time, I am sure.
Would you like to see some UK finds? I have made many finds over the years and have tried most detectors. I currently own Tesoro Cortes (amazing machine) C-scope Newforce one and laser powermax II Maxxy
