Vintage Military detector

chub

Bronze Member
Apr 23, 2017
1,503
2,242
Detector(s) used
Fisher F75, Minelab Soveriegn XS 2
Nokta pinpointer
Primary Interest:
All Treasure Hunting
I found this old detector today. Not sure if it was intended primarily for landmines? Anyway , paid about $25 USD. Took it home and made up the two battery packs from 5 x 3.6 V lithium batteries that I had left over from another project. Originals are 16.5v ( actually 17.6 v when fully charged) so 18v is close enough.
I soldered on the connections and it fired right up! Does anyone know ow if these are PI?
I may flip it, not that there's a huge margin. The satisfaction of getting it operating was enough for me.

Chub
 

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Last edited:

DeepseekerADS

Gold Member
Mar 3, 2013
14,880
21,725
SW, VA - Bull Mountain
Detector(s) used
CTX, Excal II, EQ800, Fisher 1260X, Tesoro Royal Sabre, Tejon, Garrett ADSIII, Carrot, Stealth 920iX, Keene A52
Primary Interest:
Other
Good job!

Now, it would be a shame if you didn't take it out to see how well it worked. And of course let us know the results! We're a hungry audience!
 

ChampFerguson/TN

Bronze Member
Nov 22, 2013
1,181
1,620
TN
Detector(s) used
Minelab Safari .......... Minelab Excalibur II ....... ........Minelab CTX 3030
Primary Interest:
Metal Detecting
I see milsurps at gunshows now and then. Usually in the $100 range with no guarantee that they work. I'd have jumped all over a $25 one! Yes. please let us know how it goes. (I bet you can find a manual online somewhere)
 

OP
OP
C

chub

Bronze Member
Apr 23, 2017
1,503
2,242
Detector(s) used
Fisher F75, Minelab Soveriegn XS 2
Nokta pinpointer
Primary Interest:
All Treasure Hunting
I will let you know what happens. The headphones work but the rubber is perished on one side. The Alkaline batteries that were in it expired 22 years ago! The coil is very heavy. The patina is just right though and it looks cool - a nice man cave trophy....

Chub
 

Kurios1

Silver Member
Feb 25, 2017
3,766
7,383
FEMA REGION 5 North Central Illinois
Detector(s) used
Nokta Impact Whites DFX 300 & M6 Matrix, Minelab Explorer II (2), Makro Red Racer & Racer 2, Garrett AT Pro.
Primary Interest:
All Treasure Hunting
For $25.00 bucks it's a cool old "relic" to admire hanging on your man cave wall as you stated. I may be curious enough to use it for a time or two but, being a heavy beast I reckon it would not become my go to unit. Thanks for sharing.
 

ChampFerguson/TN

Bronze Member
Nov 22, 2013
1,181
1,620
TN
Detector(s) used
Minelab Safari .......... Minelab Excalibur II ....... ........Minelab CTX 3030
Primary Interest:
Metal Detecting
For $25.00 bucks it's a cool old "relic" to admire hanging on your man cave wall as you stated. I may be curious enough to use it for a time or two but, being a heavy beast I reckon it would not become my go to unit. Thanks for sharing.


Get a harness! You'd be the talk of the neighborhood pulling gold and silver out with that one.
 

Nevada Prospector

Full Member
Aug 16, 2017
165
296
Southern Oregon
Detector(s) used
Whites MXT Pro, Garrett AT Pro, Fisher GB II, Etc, Etc.
Primary Interest:
Other
That unit is quite modern compared to the WWII model that I once had. I got mine working but the batteries were very expensive and didn't last very long. It was fun to play around with though because it drew a lot of attention.
 

Tom_in_CA

Gold Member
Mar 23, 2007
13,837
10,360
Salinas, CA
🥇 Banner finds
2
Detector(s) used
Explorer II, Compass 77b, Tesoro shadow X2
That unit is quite modern compared to the WWII model that I once had. I got mine working but the batteries were very expensive and didn't last very long. It was fun to play around with though because it drew a lot of attention.

I agree that the OP's unit is not that old. Perhaps Vietnam era ? Cool conversation piece :)
 

OP
OP
C

chub

Bronze Member
Apr 23, 2017
1,503
2,242
Detector(s) used
Fisher F75, Minelab Soveriegn XS 2
Nokta pinpointer
Primary Interest:
All Treasure Hunting
I flipped it for $130 today. To guy that collects military pieces. He was thrilled - and thought he got a bargain! So evreyone was happy....the $100 will go towards a dual field or seahunter.

Chub
 

Mzjavert

Silver Member
Oct 7, 2011
2,780
2,747
Indiana
Detector(s) used
Bounty Hunter Mark IV
Garrett Ace 350
Garrett Carrot
Primary Interest:
Metal Detecting
Great job on the find, repair and flip.
 

pepperj

Gold Member
Feb 3, 2009
36,998
136,880
🥇 Banner finds
1
Detector(s) used
Deus, Deus 2, Minelab 3030, E-Trac,
Primary Interest:
Relic Hunting
You made money, collector got a good deal-everyone is :hello2: congrats.
I had two units I bought in surplus auction 20+yrs ago. Each had the typical military carrying case which consisted of rope handles on the end of a wooden case 3'x1'x1' and weighing in around 50lbs total. Lol
Sold them to a buddy that did prop rentals to the movie sets for a $100 each.
 

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