How did you get into this hobby?

[Chico Rico]

I've always been curious as to how people got turned on to certain hobbies.
How did you get into metal detecting?

I'll start of by telling you my path...When I was a wee chap my pops got my older brother a Garrett's machine. I would follow my bro around and watch him dig things up, but nothing found was memorable. Then when I was around twelve my grandpops would tale me diggin in his back yard. We would pop out old Chinese cash coins, mercs, and Indian heads. It was a cool time. Then some years later I found myself and the wife living in Vero Beach, FL. We hit the McLarty treasure museum. If that place doesn't give you the bug, nothing will.

The wife and I got a hundred dollar bounty hunter and hit the beach. The machine did not like sand at all. So we got our money back from Wal-Mart and left it at that. I lived in Ft.Lauderdale, FL for four years and did not even think of buying a machine. I done a few dumb things in my life and that was one.

Then we move to VA and after three months here of taking in all the history I stumbled upon this WONDERIFIC website. I would read posts for days on end. So I got an ACE 250. The wife would go to the park with me and sit and shake her head. She could not figure out why I was so intrigued with pulling coins out of the ground. Then I took a weeks vacation and took the ole ACE into the rivers of VA. Lets just say soon after her seeing my finds she was tagging along with me on my hunts begging me to let her use the machine for "just 5 minutes!" I let her use it and never got it back. So I purchased a second ACE.

Now I have a wife hooked on the hobby as well as myself. I enjoy it but do not take it too seriously. I keep it leisurly. We've helped people recover lost jewelry items just to do it. In no way do we compete, we are happy when the other makes a good find and often times it gets sold to help pay the bills.
I keep my trunk of my car stocked with everything I need to hunt from batteries and a camel back of water to machines and shovels, much like I did in Florida with beach lounging necessities. We hunt where ever we can based on how we feel in a given day. The wife is a bit sloppy in her patterns or randomness of hunting but she has found many items that have paid the bills so I shut up.

That's my story in a nutshell. What's yours?

 

[steve from ohio]

Jefferey Dahmer got me involved in metal detecting! Seriously!

Dahmer went to the same high school I went to. He was three years under me and I did see him in school. One very weird guy for sure. He lived about 5 miles from my house. When that story broke, everyone in the northeast Ohio area was watching.

When he was arrested, the police asked for anyone with a metal detector to help them look into the murder of Steven Hicks, which Dahmer murdered with a dumbbell and spread his body around his dad's backyard 13 years earlier. The response was good and the guys with the detectors found some evidence and bones from Steven Hicks.

I decided that if ever there was another need, I would have a detector on hand to help out. I bought a White's Eagle Spectrum. It paid for itself in the first few weeks I had it. I found out it was a blast to hunt for coins. Never had a chance to help out the police though.

Thanks Jeff.

 

[mts]

Jefferey Dahmer got me involved in metal detecting! Seriously!

Holy cow! Now THAT'S a weird story!

 

[47thelement]

I have a beach house about 5 miles south of coin beach in Deleware...The wreck of The Faithful Steward is located about 100 yards offshore, as well as, over 2000 other wrecks along the Delmarva peninsula.

How's that for temptation...

Oh yeah and then I found out that tourist's drop gold at the beach and I live in a Colonial town and there was Civil war and war 1812 action nearby...

What am I doing typing on the forum, I should be out met

 

[Coasty]

I've always been curious as to how people got turned on to certain hobbies.
How did you get into metal detecting?


That's my story in a nutshell. What's yours?

Was always curious, in Feb 2010 my wife bought me a Bounty Hunter 505. My first find was a diamond and ruby ring, my second find was a 2 carat diamond ring, and 2 gold band rings. Have found some coins but it is the undiscovered that keeps me going. All found in local parks will do some beach hunting and river edge hunting. We had the largest battle of the war of 1812 fought near by and Marylands first settlements One can only imagine what finds are around.

 

[Beans]

I have always wanted to get rich (honest). Worked since I was 12 or so, and now in my 50s. I have tried different ways but no luck. Metal detecting is fun and I always have that hope of finding the great lost treasure. I also kick my self for not metal detecting in Germany. Was stationed in a small town called Schwabish Gmuend, which like most were prior Germany Army barracks. Would have been some great finds there I just know it.

 

[DavyJonesLocker]

The Whites TV Commmercial seems like a hundred years ago now.Himmed and halled over what detector.Saved up the dough,decided on the QXT.Drove over a hour to nearest dealer.Got there ended up getting Spectrum XLT.Quite a few more years went by.Now married sold that Xlt for money.kicked myself in butt, for that one.a few more years go by,bought a Prizm V used it once,just wasn't same as XLT.(Kept it hidden the other half dosen't know I have it)Come across a nice Spectrum XLT again wife said ok SWEEET! Remember that Prizm V ? traded it for a never used QXT with two coils,thats even SWEEEETER!.PS my wife doesn't know I have it,she wouldn't understand.If she finds out I'm history!Circles comeplete now what more can a guy want? Except a place to use them,without getting hasseled.And maybe a hunting buddy to share the thrill of the hunt.Dreaming in Roanoke VA of whats awaiting in the ground.