Metal Detecting Etiquette - Trying to Return Items that You Find

[Overkill Overkill]

"Oh man, not another post by that Overkill guy. Why doesn't he just stop asking questions and go ahead and detect!!"

Well, I have my plane ticket, and I'm headed for Indian Rocks Beach in early May for 4 or so days of detecting. The only thing left to do is to buy a detector and metal scoop! By the way, is it OK to ask on this forum for URLs of sites where used detectors are being sold. What I want is a Minelab Excalibur for $15. Just kidding. But seriously, if you can post any URL for used detectors, I'd appreciate it. I also noted that our forum has a classified section that I need to check out.

My main question: What lengths are you ladies and gentlemen going to to attempt to return items to the owner who owned the piece before you found it? I remember reading something about this in a treasure detecting code of conduct or something. After every find, is it reasonable to check a couple of lost and found sites and newspaper ads after you find something of value (say, over a certain dollar amount such as $50) to see if you can return it?

I know if I made a mistake and lost a piece of jewelry in the water, I would sure appreciate someone returning it to me - especially if I put out an ad for it.

Can you all share some of your usual protocol for attempting to locate the previous owner, if you have any 'protocol'?

 

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[Deepdiger60]

What is the propose of investing a good chunk of money and time into MD,ing a beach or field or where ever besides a hobby ?? answer $$$ unless there is a name or phone # inside the band ? . Good luck and post all your finds when you get back i dont care if its a old barrel swivel with 3 feet of 100lb test mono and a 2.0 rusty blue fish hook post it maybe we all can find the owner ? JK Good luck Dd60

 

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[Overkill Overkill]

Thanks to those who replied with thoughtful responses - what a wide range of opinions!

 

[JohnnieWalker]

Last year i meet a guy who detected a ring in wet sand 18k and 1 diamond that was valued at 240 GRAND !! the stone was 10ct white pear shaped it was at a private beach in the Hampton s ...now do you think he returned it or even tried to find the owner ?? i saw pictures of it what a rock !! iam sure if that person who lost it had it insured Dd60

Did he leave a note with his contact number in the hole from which is was found so the owner could contact him?

 

[gold-digger]

I'm sure everyone that has replied to you- isn't trying to be rude, but the fact is- If you want to be a humanitium -- build someone a house or be a volunteer somewheres.
This a more of a finders keepers hobby and for some - its more than a hobby.

Things might be different if someones crying about a lost ring in the water and sincerely ask for your help. Most of us do help. But, all to often, someone will ask for your help, they have no idea where its lost and you find yourself wasting a half hour while some other detectorist is a head of you scoring the gold ( at least that's the feeling).

There so much more to say....But everyone else has covered it already.

Bottom line is.... Its up to you.

 

[erikk]

U wear your rings & stuff 2 the beach & lose them I naturally believe U R not mentally stable & shouldn't have them anyway so I just put them away 4 safe keeping

 

[mommagpx]

Are you kidding me? Go dig something!!!

 

[erikk]

Finders Keepers, Losers .......

WELL SAID.....

 

[jeff of pa]

This will be long, But I'll tell You anyway

When I was hunting a local Lake I Found
Many Class Rings, Wedding Rings, Etc.

Class Rings : Initials, I Contacted the schools by Phone
If they helped me, locate the Person, or Gave me a name,
I contacted them when possable & Returned their rings.

IF they offered me a Reward, I Took it.
If they Didn't, Woop-Dee-Do

Wedding rings with Names, If somone knew the name,
or I Found it in the phone Book, I Returned them.
IF they offered me a Reward, I Took it.
If they Didn't, Woop-Dee-Do

Military Bracelets. Enough info to find the owners
& Returned them So I would do so.
In all cases these People were old & Talk alot,
So even an offer of rewrd was Refused
after a long sitdown listening
to their life story of how they lost it.

Junk Jewelry with Names. Researced through Phone book
if theirs Returned for free.

Jewelry with Initials, Names, still not Returned

I Put adds in the Lost & Found (FREE in the local
paper)

The adds started out

Found in Sweet Arrow Lake

then listed each item
& Initials or persons name if available.

Some adds were more like a Column
3" long. & when somone would call & Tell me
it was theirs, or if they told me they Knew the Person,
(Friend,Relative, Neighbor,Former Class Mate)
We made arangements from there.

All Items not returned after 1 year became mine
& Were dealt with as I Do all My stuff

WARNING ! Some schools when called ask you
to give it to them, to give to the Class Reunion People,
Or so they can do the Legwork. I Call BS on this.

Class Books are Public Domain
Schools Don't need to keep names of former students
Private for National Security.

& Of course Everyone who ever asked me to find something for
them I Did it for Free. While I'm searching, I'm still
detecting so What's the Loss ?

 

[DrJoePrime]

Great response, Jeff!

One of the reasons I really LOVE this hobby ... the look on the face of the returnee ... PRICELESS ... no reward needed!

HH Joe

 

[Willee]

The pirate code says:
Take everything ... give nothing back!

However, a reasonable attempt at returning that which is returnable is called for amongst civilized people.

Willee

 

[firstbiggestmost]

Whats mine is mine and whats your is mine..

You need to put that on a shirt!

 

[Chug And Red]

Red said i lost it now give it back!!! LOL if you cant positively id it you wont get it back!!! that is why i say put something on the item that you can id without any problem!!!! i would return many items if there was any type of identity on them!!!

 

[jeff of pa]

Red said i lost it now give it back!!! LOL if you cant positively id it you wont get it back!!! that is why i say put something on the item that you can id without any problem!!!! i would return many items if there was any type of identity on them!!!

absolutely.

you can dig jewelry etc from thousands of years ago.

in most cases found items have no clear way to id
who they belong to or when they were lost.

what would be the use of trying
to find somone who lost a 2 C Diamond ring
at the beach ? if the ring has no name ?

It could have been lost that day
or it could have been lost 50 years ago.

Even intials or Name

How many J.C.R. 's are there ?
how many would step forward ?

How many John Doe's are there ?
How many would claim a 2 Caret Ring ?

How many people from Jabip or wherever,
who lost something on a Beach in Florida
2 Years ago Read all the Florida Lost & Found adds
daily
for the rest of their lives in hopes of it being found ?

how much would it cost to post in every paper in the world
just on the hopes only the looser will respond ?

Class Rings at least Have a way for You to Trace.

Wedding rings with names and dates inside
work at places like Mayberry & Where I Live.

Not exactly Tourist Country.

what is the claims count at now
for the amount of people who Accidently
Donated this ring ?

http://forum.treasurenet.com/index.php/topic,318246.0.html

I Know I Dropped it, But, I'll let them have it

 

[GopherDaGold]

Whats mine is mine and whats your is mine..

You need to put that on a shirt!

It's already on most marriage certificates.

 

[Sandman]

I have been approached by many people that say they lost a ring or something while I am searching for goodies. I get them to ID it and if I have a business card in my hat I give it to them an tell them to call me that night in case I found it. I might not find it that day or the next or a buddy might find it. If the (losers) call me I get their phone number and as much info as i can on where they were that day. As most of us know items found are not where they think they lost them. Some have even taken them off and forgot about it an they are safely in the car. But we don't know that and keep searching to try to help them.

I had a friend the had a person describe a bracelet to them that they lost at this beach. We found it a couple days later at a totally different beach and it had the guys name in it. Needless to say the guy never called us with his contact info so "Doctor Detroit" kept the item hoping to run into him again. She didn't know if he lived near by or was an out of state visitor.

One of my frequent finds are car keys lost in the water. They sometimes make a spare key without the fob and lose that. No name or any id. Maybe their car will be the last one to leave the parking lot.

If you watch the beach you will sometimes see lil urchins steal stuff off blankets or coolers for what ever is inside. It is a game they play to toss the car keys in the water.

 

[Deepdiger60]

I invested a good sum of money on my machines and all there accessories to enjoy my hobby hunting fields woods old homesteads i like collecting old coins and relics and i have no desire to sell any of it , and i do use the MD,s on the beaches should i find a expensive ring worth a few thou i have no use for it except for what it is worth and maybe get some money back from what i spent finders keepers .Dd60

 

[jyt2017]

My two grams worth. If you find the owner see what they say. Most will compensate you. If its something researchable and identifiable...go ahead and do it. Like class rings with initials.

However...DO NOT CHANT AND ROAR when you find a band or something. Some one will instantly claim it! I know this because it happened to a hunting buddy. Me...I hide my finds...you wouldnt be able to tell if I found a bottle top or a ring.


If I am asked to try and locate something...I am honest and try to do it.

That being said...its my $$$ piece of equipment...and you can spend a life time trying to find the owner with no success. Just scrap it or horde it IMO. ATM I am holding all my finds...price of gold on rise.

 

[Deepdiger60]

My two grams worth. If you find the owner see what they say. Most will compensate you. If its something researchable and identifiable...go ahead and do it. Like class rings with initials.

However...DO NOT CHANT AND ROAR when you find a band or something. Some one will instantly claim it! I know this because it happened to a hunting buddy. Me...I hide my finds...you wouldnt be able to tell if I found a bottle top or a ring.


If I am asked to try and locate something...I am honest and try to do it.

That being said...its my $$$ piece of equipment...and you can spend a life time trying to find the owner with no success. Just scrap it or horde it IMO. ATM I am holding all my finds...price of gold on rise.

I have returned a class ring 1971 to the owner i went out of my way to see he got it back, and so far i had 2 lady's ask me to find a engagement ring and the other a gold cross a family air loom i found both and they were happy i took no reward even if asked ,i was talking about your everyday lost gold n silver rings with no id those i just keep or sell so far i have done the happy dance 3 times after i get off the beach .