Special Hunt with Dad! Buttons, gold, bullets, shells, hardee hat pin!

[Montana Jim]

Well I was off T-Net for a week while my parents visited from New York to attend my retirement ceremony… I spend over 24 years in the Air Force and now I’m ready to start a new career. It was a great visit, but the highlight was getting my dad out to detect here with me at one of our hunting spots.

Dad taught me to detect in the 70s and he’s been at it ever since. But he is a coin hunter and seldom into relics, and I was hoping to put him on some buttons…

Wingman Tony joined us and we spent about six hours tearing this place up.

Here is Tony and my Dad doing some extreme detecting…



The day was great… great weather, and great sunshine. But when Tony dug the very first Hardee Hat Pin (piece), also known as the Jeff Davis hat pin, the day became perfect! It’s a first for either of us and unexpected! Here is a picture of his find with an example of a whole pin. This proved to be the find of the day!



More pictures of the proud Wingman Tony with his pin!



Dad wasn’t far behind with a cool find and a first for him, a .50-70 shell casing (1870s – 1890s). I was happy that at least he wouldn’t get skunked! That smile made my week!



I continued to find piles of trash (relics) while Tony decided to find an eagle “I” infantry button, and lounge around to make it look real easy.



My Dad detecting in “Big Sky” Country.



Gold! Not to be outdone by anyone, which usually happens, I did find the first gold to come from this area. It’s a little-tiny-teeny-weenie locket lid or cover.

Note to KirkPA: Found by a bounty hunter with a four inch coil – actual depth was six inches below surface, seven inches below coil, with a solid & repeatable iron reading.



Wingman Tony of course found another eagle button… and there was much rejoicing.



Here is Tony, my Dad, and I ready to look at our detecting loot after a great day… you see I’m not smiling cause except for the invisible gold thingy - I found nothing to brag about.



Here is Tony’s stuff… He also found a pile of loose shoulder scales and part of the board for a shoulder board… awesome!! Lots of iron, three eagle buttons, a buckle, the Hardee Hat pin. He had a fantastic day…



Here are my Dad’s keepers… a great three-ringer, a better Maxi, and a miscellaneous pistol bullet, two .50-70 and one .45-70 shells, and a shoulder board scale. He also dug a knapsack rivet and a work cloths button (not an eagle – but it is an era button). I think he found a good pile of iron and roofing tin too… but I never saw any. He says its better then clad on a playground – or, maybe I said that. Either way it was great hunting with him!



And finally my stuff…

One the blue is a lantern top, an officer’s shoulder board piece, and a few shells.

One the Green should be some obvious gharbahge with a cool squared piece of lead… a game piece?

One the red is the rest.

[PBK]

Great post and pics, Jim!

[Nana40]

So now we see who you got your good looks from, Jim!

Great post! Congrats to all for those SUPER finds!!

Nana

[The Gemologist]

Look like a great day for all, nice selection of different items, Congrats

[Colonial KirkPA]

Jim, I must admit, I am not much of a relic dude, but when I see your threads, I always click on them. They are always a joy to read. You take awesome pics, bud. It felt like I was with you guys the entire time.

Note to Bigboy Jim: KirkPA is proud of your deep-seeking Bounty Hunter.

P.S. Hmmmm...Tony has headphones now! Did I convince you dudes?

[aa battery]

Perfect day!!

[oddcoins]

That's cool! I love all the pic's! Seeing all the pic's makes me feel like I was there too! But I didn't find anything ~ I SUCK! LOL

[Gypsy Heart]

Beautiful post Jim. What a great memory making opportunity for you to be able to hunt with your dad. I love it when people post actual pics of the area they have hunted. Brings a true realism to the finds....which by the way were great. Thanks for sharing your hunting day!

[Admiral de Salee]

That's a heck of a relic and button haul for one day, even with 3 hunters!

Is the site you're hunting an old cavalry campground? Site of an old fort? If you can say anything about it..

I've heard of Winchester lever-actions chambered for .45-70 and maybe some Sharps buffalo rifles in that caliber, too. Had not heard of a .50-70 until now. What rifles were chambered for that round?

This must be Talk About Cartridges Day. I checked out a .38-55 for a White's guy in Canada who found one. Some Winchesters were chambered for those.

Thanks for the great pics and story.

[Colonial KirkPA]

KirtPA, I have to tell-ya. We never use the phones unless it's -10 (must line with fur inserts) or the hawks a-blowin. It never made a difference with the BH, which I used as well up until this summer. I do admit I read your advice on the phones, and the hawk was out that day, so I buckled down. Did it make a difference? I found our 1st HHP at 3" which the BH would have found as well. I did look cool doing it though with the "gray Ghost" on. GL&HH. WT

Welcome to the forum, Tony. It is about time! LMAO I find that using headphones has increased my ability to find those deeeep targets. Plus, the privacy is the best. Your buddy, Jim, won't be able to know what kind of signal you are getting. Hmmmm...if Jim knows you are getting signals, he will infiltrate your area, right? LOL You don't want that! hahaha

HH!

[DaChief]

Great story guys. Can't wait till my boys get big enough to start going with me.

[{Sentinel}]

Hey Jim that is a BEAUTIFUL Jeff Davis Hat Pin!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Great Job, awesome hunt, your friend dug a GREAT keeper... You dug some nice relics...your dad found some nice relics...what more can you ask for I really like those shoulder scale umm SCALES HAHA Nice job Jim!! Are you sure that that Eagle Button that your friend Tony found isn't a Eagle "D" Dragoons Button. It almost looks like part of the "D" has been pushed down by ground action. But it really does look like a Eagle "D" to me.

[piggman1]

Great collection of relics found there. Way to go!

[ModernMiner]

Jim,
Fantastic post as usual. Your best find was finding time to spend with your Dad.
Tony has become quite the hunter. He can even lie down and detect. That takes some real skill to do!
Congrats on your finds guys.
By the way, who's Jeff Davis? Sammy's brother?
-MM-

[Mona Lisa]

Another gorgeous day in Montana, eh Zesty? 8)

Your posts make the best reading...and the best eye candy. I'm so glad you, Tony, and your dad got to do some relic hunting.....and I'm glad you took us along, again!

Hi Tony!!



PS....what's with the copstache? You applying for police work?

[mosemeister]

Jim that was a wonderful story you shared. The pics were great and so were the finds! It was great to share that special time with your dad and Tony Mosey

[BuckleBoy]

This is a beautiful post, and it looks like everybody got a few keepers. Great hunt, Jim. Even though it was tiny, I bet it felt GREAT to pull some OLD GOLD out of the site. Congrats!


Buckleboy

[Montana Jim]

Is the site you're hunting an old cavalry campground? Site of an old fort? If you can say anything about it..

I've heard of Winchester lever-actions chambered for .45-70 and maybe some Sharps buffalo rifles in that caliber, too. Had not heard of a .50-70 until now. What rifles were chambered for that round?

Here is some reading... it'll get you there faster than I can explain with my limited knowledge... it was a government issue springfield... http://www.quarterbore.com/library/articles/5070.html

[civilman1]

First of all Jim...Let me say congrat's and thank's for 24 year's of your service.I appreciate It!!!The find's are awesome as alway's and it was cool to see you're Dad got to tag along and see what the relic huntin' was all about,and some nice find's to boot.Look's like you all had a great day.Congrat's and HH!

[Ridley]

Jim,
Congratulations on both a great detecting day with your father and wingman Tony and your retirement!

Thanks for the cool photos!



Ridley