First Ever Hunt with Minelab CTX 3030

[granthansen]

Got out for a few hours with my brand new Minelab CTX 3030. I'm new to Minelab, so the sounds and numbers are foreign to me. I hunted most of the day in "Old Coins Old Site" mode, which I thought was appropriate for the land we were on (house built in 1830s). It's a target separation machine! Got hardly any junk too. Overall got 24 pennies (one wheatie, rest Lincolns), a couple other clad coins, and some relics including a headless horseman figurine (one day I'm sure he had his head).

Need help ID'ing this pin/button? It says "CARR FAST CO" on the reverse. I was able to find out they made knifes (Swiss Army style) during WWII, but can't find much else on this piece. When unearthed the plate looked silver color and the cross gold. Doesn't seem like noble metals, but it's not magnetic!

Here's a video of my first ever dig with the CTX, and below are pics:

 

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[Erik in NJ]

I think you did really well there for your first time out with a new machine. The Minelab machines can be difficult to get used if you're coming from another brand of detector. The relics you found are great--I'll bet there's still a lot of good stuff on that property. Best, Erik

 

[Rick (Nova Scotia)]

Sounds like somebody got himself a BIG christmas present.

I like the headless horseman...is he lead ?

 

[granthansen]

Sounds like somebody got himself a BIG christmas present.

I like the headless horseman...is he lead ?

I believe it is lead... I think I can bend the horse's head back into shape, but afraid to.

 

[fishstick]

Looks like sumbody was on the good list. lol. BIG jump from the 350! Good luck and CONGRATS.. HH

 

[firemac]

good luck with the 3030 grant

 

[Subterranean]

Grant, Congrats on the Minelab and your first finds. Your soldier appears to be WW1 long coat (winter) US Army Cavalry, but I can't find one "exactly" like him in my reference books. The paint job itself indicates a very meticulous person did the work, not the standard work of a toy factory of the era. He may have been a homemade soldier. Have fun with that new detector! Sub

 

[granthansen]

Grant, Congrats on the Minelab and your first finds. Your soldier appears to be WW1 long coat (winter) US Army Cavalry, but I can't find one "exactly" like him in my reference books. The paint job itself indicates a very meticulous person did the work, not the standard work of a toy factory of the era. He may have been a homemade soldier. Have fun with that new detector! Sub

Thanks for the ID! Can you tell me how best to clean it? Or if I should even bother?

 

[Subterranean]

I have had good luck with mild dishwashing soap and warm water to clean painted objects. They used to use oil-based paints on soldiers, and it should withstand a gentle scrubbing with a soft toothbrush! Maybe his missing parts will be nearby where he was found? With my love for American made lead soldiers, I have yet to FIND one with my detector, ugh...

 

[Gunrunner61]

I have had good luck with mild dishwashing soap and warm water to clean painted objects. They used to use oil-based paints on soldiers, and it should withstand a gentle scrubbing with a soft toothbrush! Maybe his missing parts will be nearby where he was found? With my love for American made lead soldiers, I have yet to FIND one with my detector, ugh...

About 12 years ago in Clemson,S.C. while looking in a yard about 500 yrds from the Stadium I found under a tree about 25-30 WWI lead Soldiers, All within about 3-4 feet from each other........When the old Lady and I split I left them in A pan on the Back porch.........Learned later that there was probably a pretty penny left in that pan. I did'nt know that they were so collectable................................................HH

 

[granthansen]

About 12 years ago in Clemson,S.C. while looking in a yard about 500 yrds from the Stadium I found under a tree about 25-30 WWI lead Soldiers, All within about 3-4 feet from each other........When the old Lady and I split I left them in A pan on the Back porch.........Learned later that there was probably a pretty penny left in that pan. I did'nt know that they were so collectable................................................HH

That stinks! Now you'll just have to find some more!

 

[NJLargeCent]

Good to be out there with you on your 1st hunt with your new weapon. We cherrypicked in the allotted time. Now it's time to go back and skim the next layer, where the good stuff is. The headless horseman is cool--I'm staying only a few miles from Sleepy Hollow as I write this!

 

[63bkpkr]

Any first thoughts on using the new detector, it makes some interesting sounds. Best of success on the next hunts.....63bkpkr

 

[CoinFetcher]

like the post. like most folks, I want that machine.

 

[Bill D. (VA)]

Any new machine has a learning curve, and it looks like you did just fine on your first outing.

 

[granthansen]

Any first thoughts on using the new detector, it makes some interesting sounds. Best of success on the next hunts.....63bkpkr

My first thoughts?

1. It's a king at target separation. Really amazing.

2. I really have to learn more about how to use it property!

I went out in my backyard for about 45 minutes today. It's covered in about an inch of snow and I was digging anything that was repeatable. I pretty much knew which would be junk, which was just about everything. One piece has me intrigued and I have to clean it a bit more to see if there's any detail on it. It was buried a few inches under a patio brick.

 

[rustydigger]

Good luck with that machine. The odd pin is actually a adjuster for the old swimming caps I have found lots of them in NJ. Here is a link to some pictures of some there are a few variations.
1950s Kleinert's Flower Petals Rubber Swim Cap | Shop | Kaboodle

 

[63bkpkr]

Grant,
Thank you for the input and yes as you knew before you purchased the machine there will be the new owner learning curve but it sure sounds like that machine will do wonders for you. I believe you will have fun with it!!

That piece of metal reminds me of some type of simple clamp maybe for pipes either that or its a spear hold down off of a Roman Chariot, just a guess......63bkpkr

 

[granthansen]

Good luck with that machine. The odd pin is actually a adjuster for the old swimming caps I have found lots of them in NJ. Here is a link to some pictures of some there are a few variations.
1950s Kleinert's Flower Petals Rubber Swim Cap | Shop | Kaboodle

Interesting! Thanks for the ID. I haven't been able to find any attributed to CARR FAST CO, but will keep looking. And, I think it goes without staying, us New Jersey folk are very stylish, on both land and sea.

 

[granthansen]

Grant,
Thank you for the input and yes as you knew before you purchased the machine there will be the new owner learning curve but it sure sounds like that machine will do wonders for you. I believe you will have fun with it!!

That piece of metal reminds me of some type of simple clamp maybe for pipes either that or its a spear hold down off of a Roman Chariot, just a guess......63bkpkr

My first instinct was pipe clamp too. My grandfather built and lived in the house I'm in now, and he was a metalsmith, which makes detecting my backyard quite a challenge. Lots of scrap metal!

Another night of insomnia last night lead to me reading a lot of the ctx manual. I think it's good that I went out before I read it, as I now have some "a ha's" that I can go back and try. I think if I read through it first the importance of each tidbit wouldn't have sunk in.