How long have you been metal detecting? And what got you interested in this hobby?

[treasurefiend]

I have been metal detecting for a hobby since 3/8/08 (not long at all).

I first got experience with a metal detector in the Marines 1998-2002. I was a 1371 Combat Engineer, and we used them for looking for mines. But they were just "all metal" machines, nothing special.

I always wanted a metal detector when I was a little kid, but my parents never got me one (they didn't think I would stick with it, and that it would just endup in my closet collecting dust), so one day I was watching youtube MD videos and thought ok, now is the time. So I went to ebay and got my Ace 250, and the rest is history. Guess what, I am hooked!!!!!!

 

[treasurefiend]

LOL, I didn't even answer my own question... I like the thought of finding buried treasure, thats what got me interested in this hobby.

 

[Mike Chgo area]

Been detecting off and on for 40 years. I was stationed in Jacksonville, Florida when Kip Wagner started bringing up Spanish coins from the 1715 fleet and also got my first treasure hunting magazine there. First issue of Long John Latham's True Treasure. Probably had my first treasure find when I was about 7 years old walking through the alley to a friends house and spotted a bunch of toys someone had thrown away.

When in California got interested in Ghost Towns when You Asked For It (TV show) did a show on Goldfield,Nevada and also got hooked on antique bottle digging about that time.

 

[Mike from MI "Iron Brigade"]

Ok 10 years! The lure of treasure!

 

[steve in so la]

Started detecting about 1980, thought of all that "free money" out there. Well I sure have learned a lot of history in the deal and the money is frequently second place. I read everything written by Karl Von Muller and his pen names - no internet to ask questions back then. Steve in so az

 

[camel]

ive been mding off and on since 1968.I was raised on a very historical spot that dated back to 1745.I would often find metal objects after we would plow the fields.I also started collecting indian relics from a very early age.type in spanish fort montague county texas and you will see the area i was blessed to hunt in when i finally got a real metal detector.

 

[Magyar]

and although I enjoy finding gold and silver in the ocean floor, the basic thrill for me is the challenge of finding anything....doesn't matter what it is....that has been hiding from me and everyone else ; I can only surmise that is a carry over from my childhood game of "hide and seek"...

Sometimes I win;sometimes I lose...in my old age, it's still all a game to me and I love it

 

[Paul(NWO)]

n/t

 

[Goes4ever]

I am a big kid at heart, and I love finding treasure! I had a whites coinmaster when I was a kid, and I never went anywherebut my own yard and grandma's!

so I lost interest then, The reason I got one now was I saw a show on history channel about treasure hunting, which RESPARKED my interest, started looking on ebay, and the rest is well.............history, I am addicted to playing in the dirt now!

 

[Hotcz70]

got my first "REAL" one in about 1980 which was a Whites.

 

[dobbie]

I am with treasure fiend on this one..about 2 months is when I bought my first detector. My dad has always been in the hobby since I was a little kid..I used to wonder why all of our vacations took us beach hopping along the coast..now i get it..my mom says he would detect the beaches just bout the whole time and it would pay for our vacation with some left over. so my dad introduced me to it at a young age and i became hooked when i bought my first detector. Bounty Hunter Outback..it was the cheapest one at the store......I enjoy the hobby due to the mystery of what i will find next.its like a mini adrenaline rush when i get a hit...........HH and good topic..thanx treasure fiend.

 

[Tony N (Michigan)]

I started in the 80's with an old Relco (used).
What got me started? I saw that Relco for sale at a yard sale and just wondered what I could find with it. Then later I graduated to an Minelab Explorer XS which was backward engineered from that downed UFO from Roswell I think those aliens really are an intergalactic breed of metal detectorists and came here just to find some old coins to take back home.

Tony

 

[Anonymous]

Good topic, treasurefiend! I started metal-detecting in fall of 1980 after my ex was interested when a friend and co-worker was doing it! He purchased a White's Coinmaster and because he wanted to use his himself, we went and got one for me! Thrilling to go out and find treasure! Back then there was more silver, gold and etc in the ground, but the detectors weren't as good as they are now! We have had different ones since....All White's.....and when I do go out I use a Spectrum XLT purchased new in 1994, I think, as it is hard to remember the exact date and I have really enjoyed using it!

I, too, like to see what is under the next good sounding beep and I thank the Lord for even a penny! Hey, 100 of them makes a $..... Actually I think treasure hunting is in my Genes, as mom loved to hunt arrow heads, different shapes and colors of rocks and whatever she could find in the old dumps. Yeh, mom would have made a great detectorist, if they had had detectors back then like today's are! She also was interested in Archaeology and would have made a good one had she been given the chance! Soooooo..........I think that's why I got into mding! We joined the White's Coinshooting and Historical Club in July 1981 after which the name was changed to Midwest Coinshooters and Historical Club. We used to go out in groups on the weekends once a month to detect and also detected a Civil War site out of town...................Fun, fun and more fun is all I can say!
Many found Cannon Balls, grape shot and such, but I only found an 1863 Seated Liberty Quarter and small bullets and mini-balls! My friend, Ginny, who has since passed away, found about 6 that had never been fired! She was very happy! What a time we all had! Precious memories they are to me!

God Bless!
Betty

 

[Pete in MI]

I was his sponsor and helped him find housing for him, his wife and baby. He came from New Jersey. So if anyone hears of a Lon Cerame or his son Marshal tell them I said Hi. Have never caught up with him again after I went to England.

 

[Waterbug]

I picked up a copy of a treasure hunting magazine at a book store and got the bug.That was in 1975.Been at it since.
Sears was selling metal detectors through their catalogs back then and I didn't have the cash to buy one outright,so ordered one from them,the old White's Goldmaster with the square blue box.
Got into water hunting about four years ago,more jewelry.
Waterbug