What year did-----

[D&P-OR]

you start metal detecting?-----For me, I'm getting so old I can't remember for sure if it was 1974 or 1975. ----I'll call it 1975! --------Del

 

[BigSkyCountry]

1974 -1975 also... but I have the same problem..... cant remember for sure! BSC

 

[Goes4ever]

about 1983 when I was 10 I had a whites coinmaster, I hunted my yard, grandmas yard etc....but then I lost interest because I could not find a thing! I was lucky to get 3" of depth out of that machine....

then fastforward to 3 yrs ago, I saw a tv show about metal detecting, and I caught the bug again, bought an ace 250 and started detecting. Then got the xterra 70, now the etrac.........I am officially addicted.

 

[E-Trac-Ohio]

2009

 

[NebTrac]

2009

Ditto!

NebTrac

 

[gitterdug]

I started in 1974. Bought my first detector, a Garrett BFO with money left over after selling a Datsun 240Z which I had won in a local contest. I bought equity in my first home, had about 1k left over, and bought a detector. First coin I found was a 1935 Buffalo nickel. That was after digging hundreds of junk holes on a school yard.

 

[CT Todd]

1997 fathers day gift

 

[Frank in NH]

Started in the 60's remember those old BFO's. Think my first one was a Relco out of Tex.

 

[Frank in NH]

n/t

 

[grumpyolman]

Naw! I think I can beat you all. The first detector I got was an underwater detector. It was a Garrett Sea Hunter and it was a TR. I know a lot of you will tell me it was a PI and I even had to post a picture of it in here to prove it. I didn't know there was a PI produced then. I can't remember either but I got recertified to dive in 1971 and not long after that I put the two hobbies together. Then...it was good hunting. Now it's still fun, but not near the production. jim

 

[zinzv]

Started in 1979 with my trusty Gold Mountain Eagle detector. Anyone Gold Mountain users out there?

 

[jim tn]

1974. I can remember, because we had just moved to Nashville. Don't recall, however, where I bought the Jetco, but pretty promptly bought a White's Coin Master BFO. HH jim tn

 

[RONC(OR)]

I think I started in 84 with a compass detector My first thing i found was a 12lb ax lol HH

 

[Jesse W. McComas]

1968 with a Metrotec-220 BFO Detector. I was 15 years old. It was a Birthday present from my Father. He told me, "Here you go son, this will keep you off the streets and stay out of trouble," Well, It Worked!!!. Been Diggin ever since. Oh yeah, I still have that detector hanging in my Bedroom. I put batteries in it the other day and it still works. They used to make things to last back then. HH...Jesse.

 

[dirt doctor]

I'm one of the "newbies" . I started seriously detecting in 1992 with a Tesoro Mayan I bought at a Garage sale .

 

[weston]

2006 was 12 years old when i started!

 

[kcctd]

2009 Fathers day present; been loving this hobby ever since.

 

[Grumpyolddiver]

I think in 71 or 72 (not1871 allthought I feel like it ) started with a little red BFO detector called a Cricket. I have a picture of it somewhere.Then on to a Whites 66T, then a Whites 6DB, then Eagle2sl, then I went underwater for about 30yrs then back to a soverin xs then dfx and Now an Etrac.Whewwwww thats a mouth full.I may never get rich but I sure have had fun. Doug

 

[D&P-OR]

Hey Doug---1871--boy, you are REALLY old!! (and I thought I was) ---Kiddin ya, gotta get a laugh in here somehow! ------Seriously, I'll bet you could tell us "young 'uns" some treasure stories that would have our mouths hangin open!----I'm 71 & I wish I would have/could have started detecting even earlier than 1975.-------Del

 

[Digger]

Spring of 1972. My brother had rented a detector for the weekend. We met up at the folks and spent all day detecting the local park. Well, to be totally honest, we didn't detect. He detected and I dug the targets. Hundreds and hundreds of them! That day was when I earned the nickname "Digger". 38 years! Doesn't seem possible! HH Randy