Colonial/1812 Hunt w/ Ahab8 and OutdoorAdv! Pewters, coppers, tombac and Bells

Scrappy

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Mar 6, 2014
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17th century
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UPDATE: New Pics added.

So I got away for a hard earned vacation - and what a vacation it was...

Earlier this summer after Abe was kind enough to invite us up, Ahab8, OutdoorAdv, and I decided to plan a killer fall hunt. I've been friends with Abe for close to 2-1/2? years, and Brad for about a year, but haven't met either one of them until this trip.

So I met up with Brad in Connecticut and we carpooled to Maine to connect with Abe. We quickly repacked at Abe's house and off we went. Crossing the lake, we loaded the canoe with so much equipment that we literally had 5" of freeboard. The paddle was about 1.5 miles to the island but the view alone was worth it.
ImageUploadedByTreasureNet.com1477477759.407276.jpg
Once we arrived we quickly got into digging some signals. Brad scored early but it took me a while to adjust. I was able to score a few nice flat buttons and finally, a beautiful pewter US general service button!
ImageUploadedByTreasureNet.com1477477797.393825.jpg
After a 5-Star dinner of spit fired sirloin strip steak, potatoes, and roasted garlic, we smoked cigars and had a couple beer. That's when Abe had a great idea to do a night scouting mission. We quickly found iron and followed by scoring a button each, of which I found a pewter underwear button.
ImageUploadedByTreasureNet.com1477477867.973050.jpg
After finding a foundation that was on no known map, I cleaned up real nicely with a few iron spoons (not pictured yet) and a beautiful crotal bell!
ImageUploadedByTreasureNet.com1477477903.006360.jpg followed by my first rat-tail spoon (not pictured yet).
Abe and Brad ripped on me good for hogging all the good stuff;)

The a bucket-lister came out - a pewter rat-tail spoon!! Absolutely amazing.

After a downpour all night we were back at it. I was sure to ring my crotal bell in the morning to wake everyone up! Haha!

We all dug some more buttons and I scored a ton of musketballs in the mud flats. Brad also cleaned up on some signals my CTX missed. That GPX is something else. Being in a grouped area and mostly impacted, Brad and I figured that it must have been a target range. We must have dug 30 round balls between the two of us.

We continue on the mud flats and I dig a French copper with a square hole in it. Turned out to be a French Sol. Killer hunt!
ImageUploadedByTreasureNet.com1477478014.326892.jpg

After that we packed up and headed home to rest our sore backs, and eat 75 lbs of sushi. Abe was slightly off with his 40lb estimate;) lol. Here's a pic of us loading ImageUploadedByTreasureNet.com1477478056.580059.jpg


The next day we hit two islands, and the second one paid off big time. Here is a pic of Brads head... ImageUploadedByTreasureNet.com1477478089.898517.jpg and Abe ImageUploadedByTreasureNet.com1477478137.436589.jpg
With just a little searching, we came across an interesting pile of rocks. Within a few minutes I came across a blowhole button (not pictured yet). Another first!!! It was game on after that and we went to town. After a few more buttons I had a great signal - a KG2.
ImageUploadedByTreasureNet.com1477478163.118864.jpg
Buttons and spoons started popping out everywhere and we had a great time. Everyone scored some beautiful items. I found some more buttons, mostly tombacs, all early. We estimate the site as mid 18th century, and nothing newer than ~1780's. Here's a picture from the shoreline ImageUploadedByTreasureNet.com1477478535.789624.jpg

ImageUploadedByTreasureNet.com1477478193.751680.jpg ImageUploadedByTreasureNet.com1477478211.559844.jpg silver faced buttons, no back marks. ImageUploadedByTreasureNet.com1477478228.550083.jpg

ImageUploadedByTreasureNet.com1477478264.086578.jpg ImageUploadedByTreasureNet.com1477478275.526301.jpg ImageUploadedByTreasureNet.com1477478288.497503.jpg ImageUploadedByTreasureNet.com1477478307.792158.jpg ImageUploadedByTreasureNet.com1477478323.150382.jpg

Button with thread.... ImageUploadedByTreasureNet.com1477478355.736434.jpg Pewter baby spoon ImageUploadedByTreasureNet.com1477478372.965411.jpg a KG2 that didn't fare well in cleaning
ImageUploadedByTreasureNet.com1477478400.804486.jpg

ImageUploadedByTreasureNet.com1477478468.337676.jpg


What a hunt. Abe was a gracious host and really put in the effort to make our trip a memorable one. Brad, meh, he's ok....just kidding. Great guys, great times, and a trip I'll remember always.
ImageUploadedByTreasureNet.com1477478618.232083.jpg

To wrap things up, we all had MONSTER lobsta' rolls.

ImageUploadedByTreasureNet.com1477478600.723163.jpg

Enjoy and good hunts!

Steve

Just added:

1812 Iron nails used for the fort all cleaned up

ImageUploadedByTreasureNet.com1477752786.807138.jpg

And a colonial iron spoon. It was folded in half!!

ImageUploadedByTreasureNet.com1477762732.477391.jpg

And finally, a Crushed Blowhole button crushed by that Abe fella- AKA "Magilla Gorilla"

ImageUploadedByTreasureNet.com1477765786.428190.jpg ImageUploadedByTreasureNet.com1477765799.832545.jpg

ImageUploadedByTreasureNet.com1477765859.376025.jpg

Rat tail ImageUploadedByTreasureNet.com1477766025.895855.jpg ImageUploadedByTreasureNet.com1477766035.748946.jpg
 

Last edited:
Upvote 36

CRUSADER

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May 25, 2007
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OP
OP
Scrappy

Scrappy

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Mar 6, 2014
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Great post man! That little pewter spoon is something I don't believe I've ever seen before. Glad you were able to both score your first rat tails and that petal bell is a beauty. It was fun trying to figure out what your copper was with the giant rectangular cutout. That's a very cool piece in my opinion. But the US pewter may be my fave. It was so cool to see you pull your first marked pewter. Pretty sure I was way more excited than you were lol. I'm looking forward to the next time we are able to get together and hopefully dig up some more Colonial goodness. Truly an awesome few days.
Btw everybody I'm not really that short! I'm standing in a hole....I swear lol

I think I was relieved and excited to find that pewter. It was the one thing I wanted from that island. You and Brad were very thorough buddy. I'm used to gaps from sloppy hunters;)

Anyway, I could see the enjoyment on your face when Brad and I found really nice stuff. It made me feel good about finding it and eliminated having to worry about jealous mofo's. I glad we were on on the same level with that sort of thing.
 

Ahab8

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Oct 15, 2013
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I think I was relieved and excited to find that pewter. It was the one thing I wanted from that island. You and Brad were very thorough buddy. I'm used to gaps from sloppy hunters;)

Anyway, I could see the enjoyment on your face when Brad and I found really nice stuff. It made me feel good about finding it and eliminated having to worry about jealous mofo's. I glad we were on on the same level with that sort of thing.

I would never invite anybody if I was going to be a jealous selfish ass. It's a great feeling watching your buddies do well and seeing their excitement
 

UnderMiner

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Jul 27, 2014
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This right here is what the hobby is all about! Awesome!! :headbang:
 

DownNDirty

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Excellent post, Steve-all those on-site and "in action" pics really make it more enjoyable to read. I almost felt like I was there (well not really unfortunately but you get my drift). The three of you look like tired, scruffy pups in that picture and no wonder. You packed in a lot in three days. Congratulations of a lot of great finds including some firsts.
 

joeyfresh

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Dec 19, 2006
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Great photos and even nicer finds Steve-o. Did you make a videos?
 

Gridwalker306

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Great post Scrappy, and what an amazing time you guys had! Thanks for letting us peek into your adventure and showing the nice old finds.

I've never had a lobster roll before, but now I want one.
 

coinman123

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Feb 21, 2013
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If the US button is Revolutionary War than you have a banner! Awesome finds, and it looks like a very fun hunt!
 

OP
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Scrappy

Scrappy

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Mar 6, 2014
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Hey--there's our T-Net boys!! Loving these posts about your detecting adventures! Look how teeny that crotal bell is! Great buttons, and what a gorgeous area to hunt in! Congrats on all of your finds. -Lisa & John

That bell isn't small, my hands are big! Lol. Actually I thought the bell had a "C" makers mark on it until Abe told me it was a 0 - as in size zero.
 

OP
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Scrappy

Scrappy

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Hey Steve, the item in the top left of this pic looks kind of like a bayonet scabbard clip. If you are digging War of 1812 buttons and musketballs, I wouldn't be surprised to see a bayonet scabbard clip turn up.


Here are some examples:

View attachment 1374788 View attachment 1374789

I think you're absolutely right about that. Brad and I had a whole conversation about that thing.i knew it was special so I kept it safe and I'm the pics. Thx for the great ID!
 

OP
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Scrappy

Scrappy

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Another outstanding post about the "Great Maine Hunt". It's been fun to read about this through the eyes of each of you, but the common theme is that you guys had a blast both with the digging as well as hanging out. Thanks for all those site photos Steve, especially that panoramic view which says it all. And congrats on a nice pile of early finds. I'd be happy with a single flat button right now, but not sure when I'll be able to get back out. Guess I'll have to keep living vicariously through you guys. Again, great post!

I'm happy to hear you enjoyed it Bill. Those panoramas really capture the essence of Maine. Every time I visit there I'm dumbfounded by the endless beauty of that place. Beauty, abundance, and accessibility - it's no wonder some of the earliest settlers chose Maine. I hope you get up and out soon buddy.
 

BARKER

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Hi; Excuse me while I drool.!!!! :laughing7: Great hunt guys. Now that's what I call a great hunt. PEACE:RONB
 

Z.K.

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Those pics really capture a great sense of adventure and camaraderie, in addition to the sweet finds. Happy for you guys
 

OP
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Scrappy

Scrappy

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Excellent post, Steve-all those on-site and "in action" pics really make it more enjoyable to read. I almost felt like I was there (well not really unfortunately but you get my drift). The three of you look like tired, scruffy pups in that picture and no wonder. You packed in a lot in three days. Congratulations of a lot of great finds including some firsts.

Thanks Glenn. We were tired and beaten by then end of day three. So what are we doing next time? 4 days!

As you know, these guys are hardcore. Brad showed me a lot of pit digging pointers and spoke great things of you. Says that guy Glenn is a crazy pit digging mofo! Lol. Not that I didn't know that already from your killer posts. Cheers bud
 

OP
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Scrappy

Scrappy

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Great photos and even nicer finds Steve-o. Did you make a videos?

Only videos I can't post on here. Like your text today suggested. Lol.

I'm still working on piecing the blowhole I found back together. I dunno if you heard but Abe, in a fit of jealousy, crushed my poor little button. Brad saw the whole things
 

OutdoorAdv

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Only videos I can't post on here. Like your text today suggested. Lol.

I'm still working on piecing the blowhole I found back together. I dunno if you heard but Abe, in a fit of jealousy, crushed my poor little button. Brad saw the whole things

It was a sad site Joey. Steve handed it to me and I was like "incredible man, thats a killer blow hole" then I hand it to Abe and a second later is was smashed in 2 pieces.
 

coinman123

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It was a sad site Joey. Steve handed it to me and I was like "incredible man, thats a killer blow hole" then I hand it to Abe and a second later is was smashed in 2 pieces.

That happened to my first blowhole button, except it ended up in 3 pieces! They are very fragile!
 

Ahab8

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That happened to my first blowhole button, except it ended up in 3 pieces! They are very fragile!

Yeah see you fools....they're very fragile. I only had to squeeze it a little bit to destroy it. You found enough firsts on this visit. I couldn't allow you anymore. At least my boy Coinman understands
 

The Rebel

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Awesome post, pic's & finds! Love the beach assault!
 

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