New site and some goodies. 1867 Shield nickel, scabbard tip, carved lead and more!!

matt092079 · Apr 20, 2013

I'm back guys! It's been almost a month since I've even turned my F75 on and today it didn't skip a beat! My lovely wife and father in law helped gain me permission from some friends that own a 300 plus acre farm that sets on the Virginia and West Virginia state line. I didn't do any research on the site so I didn't really know if I would find anything. I got there and walked through the gate and 3 targets in and about 5 minutes in I dug a first for me, an 1867 shield nickel. I was stoked then! Only a couple minutes after that I found my first CW bullet and it was a fired 3 ringer. It wasn't long after that I started to find bullet after bullet. All confederate lead I believe which doesn't hurt! Confederate buttons eluded me, but I did find a button back. So I'm holding out hope. Found a really piece of carved lead that kinda looks like a tusk. Also found my first scabbard tip, another first was a pulled bullet(not a big deal for some, but it was my first pulled bullet I've found!) some sorta chain thingy...not sure what it's from. I found a nice J hook, but I couldn't find it in my pouch!

Also gotta little iron buckle, a nice brass oval bridal guide as well. Not sure what the large piece is that I'm holding. It was the very first target I dug. Thought it was a spur at first when I was pulling it out, but definitely not a spur...any ideas? I will definitely be making a return to this site I've only just scratched the surface and it felt SOOOO good to get out there and detect! Pictures below, thanks for looking and HH!

matt092079 · Apr 23, 2013

MarkDz said:
Nice hunt, Matt! I think you've got a lot of good days ahead there. The carved lead may have been used as a "lead pencil."

Thanks, Mark. Yeah it could have been. Who knows really? That's the best part about this hobby!

Steve in PA · Apr 23, 2013

Looks like you have a good new site Matt. The chain "thingy" is a curb chain from a horse's bit. It could be military or civilian.

Gunrunner61 · Apr 23, 2013

Great finds Matt, the carved thing could be a tusk, As they used to say being in a Battle
was (seeing the Elephant) just a thought..................HH