Re: Metal Detecting (Including Finds).
 

Shame that, couldn't you have got it decommissioned by a gunsmith or some such?

Re: Metal Detecting (Including Finds).
 

Re: Metal Detecting (Including Finds).
 

Aye, see your point, that said though, I have a very good mate who is exactly that. Ex REME Armourer, he got out & got himself accredited & qualified as a "Wafen Meister" & now runs his very own business here. Not bad for a Yorkingshire lad really & when I visit his workshop I get to have a nose at & handle various weaponry. :)

Re: Metal Detecting (Including Finds).
 

ut Your whats known a a lucky beggur, my old mate, Sandbags, joined up an was trained as an armourer, they wanted him to stay on as an instructor, but he werend havin any o that, there he was June 6th running across the beach with all his mates to find shelter som where, he was in his 2nd childhood when I used to pick him up and take him to Fulwood with me, he sit in a chair between racks of rifles touching them grinning like a Cheshire cat, he started fetchin a bottle of linseed oil with him and he'd spend ages wi sum owd 4x2 patches rubbing woodwork over. Poor owd Sandy he's passed on now. One ot sadest things during last 6 months he didn;t know who I was, he kept seyin who arti, sed its thi mate whizz-bang (thad were mi nickname to him) o aye I know whizz-bang bud tha nod im. Wid bin friends for oer 50 years, lifes a bastard at times.

Re: Metal Detecting (Including Finds).
 

Ain't that the truth! Shame about your mate though, good mates are oft times better than blood. :)

Re: Metal Detecting (Including Finds).
 

Re: Metal Detecting (Including Finds).
 

Well,I managed a few hrs out with my detecting stick this afternoon.
I decided to have a few hrs on a local pasture permission that I haven't really been on much,the weather was very mild and I wasn't too disappointed with the finds either.

9 lead musket balls
4 rotten shell casings
2 ornate buttons
2 threpenny bits
1 lead Baltic flour bag seal
1 old 5p (shilling)
1 georgey penny
2 ornate candlestick holder things all washed down with a lovely sunset :)


Attachment 54816

Re: Metal Detecting (Including Finds).
 

Re: Metal Detecting (Including Finds).
 

I hate the ruddy things,they get in the way of the better stuff,they give of the same signal as coins on my machine so I've got to dig them.

Do they tend to ricochet? I only ask because I've found some that look like they hit something (squashed).

The buttons were general service buttons and the bag seal is a,possibly German,"whites flour seal".usually the detail on these seals is poor but mine looks like one of the better examples.

Re: Metal Detecting (Including Finds).
 

MBullets can ricochet for miles, one of the worst ranges with that problem was at Hapton Scouts, for your info a rifle range for full bore rifles, with out a back stop nust have a free zone of 2 miles behind the farthest targetsso add 1200 yards to 2 miles an you will ve some wher near, cartridge cases could have been picked up by any one, literally 100's would be left lying around,especially just after the war and into the 1950's when literally 1000's n 1000's of rounds of surplus ammo had to be used up. Bottom of the Irish sea & North sea must be littered with 100's of tons of surplus ardnace after the end of WW2, sometimes up at Holcombe some of the officers of units om the range, would approx our club sec and sell him 1000's of rounds of .303 cheap, so they could pack up an leave. it all helped our clubs coffers, and there were 3 clubs using Holcombe at that time Manch, Bury, n Blegburn. I was a member of the Manch club as well, so I got to shoot with the on Saturdays, half a crown for 10+2 on two ranges, and that included being in the pot for the most x's at the end of the matches.

Re: Metal Detecting (Including Finds).
 

I had a few hrs spare this afternoon,I decided some detecting was in order, so I grabbed my stick and headed for a local permission.

The weather was poor and I didn't find much of note,I did find a "trade weight" and a unusual plaque which reads "1672" along with a spoon head,few pre-decimal coins and a buckle.


Attachment 54822

Re: Metal Detecting (Including Finds).
 

Today,I decided to brave the elements and have a few hours indulging in my pastime.
The weather wasn't too bad once I got motivated but the ground was frozen and digging was harder than usual.
The finds were scarce to begin with until I decided to try down by the river which forms a natural boundary on my permission.

The finds of note are:-

3 pre decimal pennies
1 George 3rd half penny
1 drawer handle?
1 cigarette lighter
1 silver ring and a jaw harp :alright:

Attachment 54948

Re: Metal Detecting (Including Finds).
 

Well,I decided to get out yesterday and go to club dig near York,the site was allegedly an old (17-1800's) homestead in a farmers field.
The weather was a little poor and dispite they say (that "the real treasure is in being out and in fresh air with like minded folk"),I was on a mission to find something nice.

It was a good day as far as the finds were concerned,There was silver coins everywhere,22 silvers came up in total and 2 of them were found by me.

Anyway,the finds of note are:-

Multiple Modern/predecimal coins

1 George 111 "cartwheel" penny
1 George 111 "bullhead" sixpence
1 Victoria "jubilee head" threepence
1 (navy?) badge/button with a anchor and writing on
1 ornate button
1 blank button and a large metal disc.

Attachment 55093

Re: Metal Detecting (Including Finds).
 

Well,I managed to get 4 hours detecting in yesterday on one of my favorite fields.

Goodness me it was a cold day,it wasn't long before I was thinking 'what the hell am I doing', but there was a lot of enthusiasm on my behalf to have a good day in spite of the wintery conditions.

My first good signal turned out to be a owd ruddy shotgun cartridge, then a few predecimal bits of pocket change, then 'BOOM' two lovely silvers one after the other and a little (military?) badge :alright:

[ATTACH][/ATTACH]

Re: Metal Detecting (Including Finds).
 

Today,I decided a detecting session was in order, I arrived at my favourite permission at about 9am full of hope.

Things soon went from bad to worse,I made a school boy error by turning my detecting stick on without finding a clean spot first.
A hour later,soaked to my core, I hadn't dug anything but a copper pipe,a shotgun top and 3ringpulls.Soooo I turned the detecting stick off,had a little breather and started again putting my best foot forward.

At the far side of the farm is a area which is host to a number of large oak trees,wanting shelter from the wind and rain, I headed over and dug several lumps of fence on the way.Then I got a cracking signal which got me all excited,by this time I was literally drenched,it turned out to be a lovely Victorian pencil sharpener.

I set off round these old trees and it wasn't long before I got another cracking signal, the detecting stick was saying its 8" deep, so down I dug and saw a cross shape object......Yes it was my first 1700's orthodox pedant.

To cut a long story short,I spent the whole day rolling around in the mud,the finds of note are:-

1 George 11 halfpenny
1 1700's crotal bell
1 cross pendant
1 little shoe buckle
1 Victorian pencil sharpener
1 dog pendant capsule,a few buttons and a few predecimal bits of change.

Attachment 55191

Re: Metal Detecting (Including Finds).
 

Jason you are to be commended for your persistence in what has been a very wet and miserable day.
For me it would only have been worth it if I had found the treasure that was lost in The Wash(I think there were a couple of mediaeval gem crusted crowns, lots of coinage and ceremonial necklets).
Still, whatever floats your boat.

Did you by chance see Noah out there testing his new boat?

Re: Metal Detecting (Including Finds).
 

Cheers M,I may be wrong,but I think even a lady of your expectations would be bitten by the hobby after unearthing a few bits of history.

There was no sign of Noah or his shiny speedboat but the ducks seemed contempt with the weather....Roll on summer :hothothot

Re: Metal Detecting (Including Finds).
 

Well,I managed to get in about 3 hours detecting on a local park today.
I didn't find much of any interest except a nice St. John's ambulance button,I did however find a few quid in spendables (until tomorrow?).
To give you a indication of the finds to rubbish ratio,it was digging about 6bits of rubbish to each coin (that's a lot of holes).

Attachment 55208

Re: Metal Detecting (Including Finds).
 

I had a few hours swinging my stick this morning on a local pasture permission,the weather wasn't great and finds were scarce.
The land was very clean,hardly any rubbish,It took me about half a hour to get a decent signal but out popped a little (silver) bracelet with writing on from about 2" deep.

Anyhow,The finds of note are:-

1 bracelet
1 broken cross pedant
1 ornate metal stud item
1 George 111 half penny

Attachment 55210

Re: Metal Detecting (Including Finds).
 

Mrs E went out with her friends yesterday,I took this opportunity,along with the longer hours of daylight,to visit a undisclosed permission that I haven't really had the chance to get to before.

The weather was relatively nice and it was a pleasant change to visit another part of Lancashire.The field was a lovely peaceful pasture and it was also very close a place where a Roman hoard was recovered....I was itching for my first Roman coin but sadly it wasn't to be.

The first signal was a coin, the next was some sort of dagger sheath :dancedog:,There weren't many signals but what signals there was turned out to be better stuff (apart from the 12 ringpulls i dug up).
​
Before I knew it,it was soon time to go home,my visit cut short by a tractor turning up with slurry spraying equipment.
As it began spraying and air filled with the pungent smell of cow dunk I knew it was time to go home for tea.

The finds of note are:-
2 military cap badges
1 georgey penny (I did find more but gave them away).
1 dagger sheath (with blade inside)
1 brass lighter (not working)
1 buckle
1 enamel ring and a large musket ball :alright:

Attachment 55212

Re: Metal Detecting (Including Finds).
 

Can anyone ID the regiment and/or age of this cap badge (DinG,Retlaw I'm looking at you :D).

Attachment 55213

Re: Metal Detecting (Including Finds).
 

Possibly RE from the reign of George 5th (V between the GR). It should say Royal Engineers in a "scroll" at the base of the cap badge & the motto in the "belt" should read Honi soit qui mal y pense. ;)

Re: Metal Detecting (Including Finds).
 

Cheers D,it's a bit crusty so I'm soaking it in oil :)

Re: Metal Detecting (Including Finds).
 

I had a little time out today as the sun paid us a rare visit,the lambs were out springing around all over the place and the birds were singing.

I wasn't expecting anything special in this undisclosed location but I came across a strong but very faint signal, very much like a deep piece of scrap iron,after a few hums and a few hars whilst plundering wether or not is was worth putting in the effort I began to dig.

After digging a 6" deep hole and then scraping around with my trowel for 5mins, I saw the distinct glint of silver in the bright sun,It turned out to be a lovely Georgey shilling (very strange signal).

The finds of note are:-

1 1920 silver shilling
1 broken snake buckle
1 ring(maybe)
1 ornate button and few predecimal coins (and a ring pull).

Attachment 55221

Re: Metal Detecting (Including Finds).
 

Hope your all well.

I've been busy busy with work lately,on the plus side it has given me the opportunity to find some bits from other parts of the country.
Attachment 55582Attachment 55583Attachment 55584Attachment 55585

Re: Metal Detecting (Including Finds).
 

Some interesting looking coins there & the last one looks like a Canadian cap badge, any info of where & when?

Re: Metal Detecting (Including Finds).
 

Most of the (medieval hammered) coins come from ploughed fields in the Lancaster area.
I went on a couple of organised digs when I was away,there was some really interesting stuff found around there (gold/silver).
The cap badge was found in a place called Lathom,Ormskirk (southport),I believe it is probably from WW1 (I may be wrong though).

Attachment 55586

Re: Metal Detecting (Including Finds).
 

I know the area, not far from my Dads house & where I grew up. Not really clear enough to see but does it reference Winnipeg on the scroll?

Re: Metal Detecting (Including Finds).
 

I'm unsure mate,I can't make it out either, it's goosed and I've seen the results from going at stuff with wire wool :eek:
It looks like it's made from copper (if that helps),I'll attach another pic since your "that cat".

Attachment 55587

Re: Metal Detecting (Including Finds).
 

After a couple of hours of "Goggling" (T'tinterweb is a marvellous thing) I do believe that this is the cap badge in question. :)

http://shoulder-to-shoulder.net/prod...5573997892.jpg

The 31st Infantry Battalion (Calgary, Alberta) C.E.F. Raised 7th Nov 1914, sailed for the UK aboard the RMS "Carpathia" 17th May 1915 more than likely arriving at Liverpool (hence the finding in Lathom). Trained in UK then set off to France disembarking on the 18th Sept 1915.

"Bell's Bulldogs" served in many of the major battles in France & Belgium as part of the 6th Inf Bde, 2nd Canadian Div earning some impressive battle honours, the unit returned to Canada May/June 1919 & were disbanded 15th Sept 1920.

Keep on detector sticking Accyx, as history is all around us just waiting to be "unearthed". ;)

Re: Metal Detecting (Including Finds).
 

Great bit of sleuthing Son...you deserve a putty medal!

Re: Metal Detecting (Including Finds).
 

Cheers Ma :) I've already got a couple her Madje, Ol' Lizzie said I could have them for saving the UK from various nasties, plus I got one apiece from the Kuwaities & the Saudis for keeping their arses out of a sling! :D

Was a regular little Tommy Atkins me!

Re: Metal Detecting (Including Finds).
 

Wear them with pride and in good health!

Re: Metal Detecting (Including Finds).
 

Attachment 56342

Helll again,I hope everyone is well, I dig this Clayton le Moors 1.5D token up this morning.
I don’t suppose anyone could give me any info on it could they?

Re: Metal Detecting (Including Finds).
 

Attachment 56343

Here is a pic of the reverse side.

Re: Metal Detecting (Including Finds).
 

Nope! Can't help you there AccyX, but it's nice to have you posting again & by the looks of it you've got yourself a new camera too (or you've been practising taking your happy snaps). :)

Re: Metal Detecting (Including Finds).
 

Observant as ever D, not to worry, someone may be able to shead some light on it for me in the future (it’s still a nice bit of local history).

I got myself one of them “smartphones”, the camera on it is very good compared to my old one.

Re: Metal Detecting (Including Finds).
 

I haven’t been out much with the old detecting stick,I did however go out with a club to area near Settle about two weeks ago.
It was it blooming freezing on the hilltops, the ground was rock solid and the bitter cold air froze my lungs as I stuggled for air.

I searched all day without finding anything of note then, as I was on the way back to the car, BOOOM my detector came alive and screeched a high pitch tone (a tone usually reserved for precious metals).
With my heart beating, and without being able to feel my fingers or toes, I dug and dug until out popped this lovely ornate thimble from about 6” down.

Attachment 56478

Re: Metal Detecting (Including Finds).
 

That is a beautiful Jason.
Well worth digging for.

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Re: Metal Detecting (Including Finds).
 

I’ve given all my cap badges a light scrub and a good oiling R (I still can’t make out the No).
I had no idea there was so many similar Canadian badges.

Here is my collection.
Attachment 56483

Re: Metal Detecting (Including Finds).
 

Hi M,hope you had a lovely Christmas, it was defiantly worth enduring the conditions for :)

Re: Metal Detecting (Including Finds).
 

You too Jason...and of course Mrs accyexplorer...we had a very relaxed day.

I would be very happy to unearth something that is not only pretty, but practical.
Has it any markings on it?
It would be the icing on the cake if it turned out to be a Charles Horner(famous silversmith from Halifax, Yorkshire)...but even if it isn't it takes nothing away from it.

Re: Metal Detecting (Including Finds).
 

[QUOTE=Accyexplorer;1206424]I’ve given all my cap badges a light scrub and a good oiling R (I still can’t make out the No).
I had no idea there was so many similar Canadian badges.
Those are just a few of the Canadian Scottish Regiments and Battalions, many of them were replicas of the original Scottish home land Regiments, with the word Canada or a Maple Leaf on them, The Canadian Scottish were one of the few Regiments that could get away with less than a standard batallion, of 1000 men and 36 officers, some Canadian Scotts had as few as 500 men per Battalion. I've never counted all the badges dad left but there must be well over 300. I once asked the medal collectors next to the post office about them and he offered me 1500 qud for the lot, I told him where to go, found an out of date book on Canadian badges in Accy library it only valued a 3rd of them, and that came to nigh on 4 grand, what they are worth now god only knows, I once got in touch with some Canadian collectors, but they wanted me to take them over there, I might look green bud am nod daft.

Re: Metal Detecting (Including Finds).
 

Me and Mrs E had a nice quite day, mainly catching up on chores etc.

It has no hallmarks, I’ve done the tinfoil and lemon juice test and I came back it’s not being silver (probably plated).
It has engraving around the base (Not English), It has DB engraved into the top (i assume this is the initials of the user) I’ve asked the landowner and they have no idea who’s it could of been.
Attachment 56485

Re: Metal Detecting (Including Finds).
 

Well, even if it isn't silver, it is very pretty.
It makes you wonder how it came to be lost.
I wish these kind of things could talk and tell us something about their history.

Re: Metal Detecting (Including Finds).
 

Aye, like old abandoned buildings, They all have a story to tell.
I often wonder to myself how some of these items get lost, often in the middle of nowhere, I guess we can only speculate on that.

I did find a lovely 18ct gold ring the other day but it turned out to be the farmers and it was a family heirloom that he lost 4years ago while bailing hay (he was very greatful for my honesty).

Attachment 56486

Re: Metal Detecting (Including Finds).
 

I am sure the farmer was very relieved to have his gold ring returned to him...and hopefully you will be repaid by some interesting find.

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As I handed it back the farmer moved in to embrace me, I moved swiftly out of arms reach....never before has my hate for unnecessary human contact been so cruelly exposed :D

Anyhow, as you’ve mentioned, the feeling of returning a lost item is treasure in itself and he did give me another field to search.

Re: Metal Detecting (Including Finds).
 

That sure sounds like some kind of authorial quote, have you been sneakily bettering yourself Mr.AccyX? :)

Re: Metal Detecting (Including Finds).
 

I am not a fan of hugs(unless it is someone I know)...but I think on this occasion I might have succumbed(unless the said farmer was covered in cow muck that is).
I think he wanted to display his gratitude....felt that a man hug was appropriate, but if that made you feel uncomfortable then so be it.

As I get older(or more mature) I find myself more accepting of someone giving me a hug.
It is more expressive than a handshake...that is the domain of business men and bankers and only means they are not carrying a dagger(still doesn't mean much emotionally)

Re: Metal Detecting (Including Finds).
 

No, I must of heard it some place, it’ll take more than education to polish this little treasure :)

I’m actually a fan of hugs, i believe they should be encouraged, I’m just not effectionate in that way unless I really know the person (I’m happy with a old fanshined handshake until then).

To say on topic, here is a lovely young Victoria shilling I dug up earlier before rain cancelled play.
Attachment 56503

Re: Metal Detecting (Including Finds).
 

Just a little update, it turns out the thimble I found was “treasure”, sadly it shattered while I was trying to straighten it a bit :(

Attachment 56629


I sent a pic of the broken thimble to a friend who quickly sent me the link below :-

https://timelineauctions.com/lot/med...it-omnia/1372/

I contacted a local finds liason officer as required by law and this was his reply:-

“ Hi Jason, thanks for your email, it looks like a straightforward silver treasure case.
I believe the item is a post-medieval elongated silver thimble dating from 1500 to 1700AD. The thimble is incomplete now in 3 pieces originally constructed from a sheet of silver soldered along the edges attached to a separate domed top soldered to the almost straight sides. A plain band runs around the top of the body of the thimble separating the dome. Evenly spaced knot motifs are stamped immediately below this upper band. The body and most of the dome is punched with square indentations, giving a 'waffle' effect and decorated with knotted bands possibly representing strap work conjoined with smaller oval bands. On the domed top is possible an owners mark in capitals *D. J*. At the bottom of the body of the thimble is a plain silver band with an inscription. . The length is 30mm, the width is 18mm thickness 18mm and the weight is 4.46g.
Silver thimbles were used increasingly by the European nobility and gentry during the 17th Century but surviving examples are rare given that thimbles were much used and, when worn, were likely to have been melted down for their bullion value. In England, silver thimbles are documented as having been donated by women on the Parliamentary side to be melted down during the Civil War. Even later 17th Century English silver thimbles are rare, with few pieces in the national collections in The British Museum and the Museum of London. They are distinctive for their strapwork designs.” Finds officer

Re: Metal Detecting (Including Finds).
 

That is really interesting.
It just shows that you never know unless you check out with someone knowledgable.

Re: Metal Detecting (Including Finds).
 

What a shame it broke while you were working on it. Is there any way you could confirm what some or all of the letters are on the inscription around the bottom? Maybe somebody make a stab at identifying it further?
Mark

Re: Metal Detecting (Including Finds).
 

What a "Pisher" that turned out to be!

Re: Metal Detecting (Including Finds).
 

Yes, like most things, it’s always worth running it past someone more knowledgable :)

Hi Mark, the finds officer has taken the thimble so he can do his report (size,weight etc).
When his report is finished it gets sent to a coroner to make the decision that it’s treasure and not a modern lost item.

After that, it then gets offered to the British museum who either make a offer for the item or release it for public auction (this process take between 6months-2yrs :eek:).

If and when I get it back, it will hopefully have a full report (inc inscription) and I’ll be able to update folk further.

Everydays a school mate, it’s still a harsh lesson to learn :D

Re: Metal Detecting (Including Finds).
 

I managed to get out for a hour with the detecting stick earlier, I didn’t find much apart from a old penny...better luck next time I guess :)
Attachment 56813