Bucket list relic

[neodetectorist]

The AT Pro found this out in the woods today. I have been digging low tones and this one hit about 30. Since I had the discriminator set at 30, it just growled at me but loud enough to get me to dig it. I am glad I did.
This is my first skeleton key.
Obviously iron not brass.
Can these be dated?
I do not know if I want to clean up anymore.
I love the rust patina it has.

 

[villagenut]

Nice key. I like iron and I like old keys but the rust is your enemy. You gotta take some steps to stabilize it or it will be a gonner. It all started when it was introduced to its new environment and will not get better over time.

 

[toasted]

Nice find. All I can find are fragments

 

[Professor of Engineering]

Congratualtions on the nice key!

 

[Hawks88]

Nice key find. Congrats!

 

[Trezurehunter]

Congrats on your first Skeleton Key. I agree with Villagenut. You will have to give it a light scraping to get rid of surface rust, then there are some various types of spray varnishes or rust inhibitors that you can apply to slow it down.

 

[neodetectorist]

Could I give this a soaking in used motor oil for a few days?

 

[Carolina Tom]

You have to get the rust off, and seal it. Electrolysis is the best bet, but chemicals will work too. If you don't preserve it, it'll fall apart shortly.

Congrats on the skeleton key, I have only found 2 in 4.5 years. I really like them. Good show!

 

[Vldetecting]

It's a nice find! I still have it one my bucket list tho

 

[Truth]

Nice skeleton key only got 1 1/2 in my 4 years of hunting. Congratulations

 

[Truth]

The AT Pro found this out in the woods today. I have been digging low tones and this one hit about 30. Since I had the discriminator set at 30, it just growled at me but loud enough to get me to dig it. I am glad I did.
This is my first skeleton key.
Obviously iron not brass.
Can these be dated?
I do not know if I want to clean up anymore.
I love the rust patina it has.

View attachment 1588342

Here’s one cleaned up

 

[BIGSCOTT]

soak it in phosphoric acid, if you like the rust - patina, it will crystalize and turn the
rust black, it wont rust anymore either.