One keeper from a whole lot of digging

pepperj · Sep 10, 2017

Went out scouting a new field and it was a bomb, so I moved over to a site next door to it and started to dig iron.
This site has produced a few really nice keepers as tokens, GW Button, and few nice relics.
The down side there's iron and lots of it, though the sod is like cutting into butter with a hot knife so its easy for retrievals. 3 1/2 hrs of telegraph beeping going off I dug enough iron to say that's enough once again. Being 5 minutes away I can return another day to dig out more in the future.
I have been thinking about doing a lease on this site to set up a sifter and using the loader on the tractor do the whole site, as there's a 100' x 100' x 1' iron patch that has the old underneath the iron. So the only real nice piece was the rein guide, and one hand forged hook that I'll restore at a later date. Some old glass, part of pipe bowl, and bits.

Got a couple of :dontknow:

The thick sheet has been cut, looks like what tomback button type of metal, and the other is a thick brass cone shaped piece.

And a little pile of iron.

relic nut · Sep 10, 2017

The old iron can be fun to dig, but I have to be in the mood. Should be some great stuff mixed in there. Good luck.

HH, RN

Scrappy · Sep 10, 2017

That's a lot of Iron brother! And big pieces to boot. I bet there's some old stuff under there like you said so if you can do a lease and remove some of that iron, you'll be into some goodies. I'm glad you got out Pepp

dirtlooter · Sep 10, 2017

the heavy iron tends to make me save it for when I have nothing else to hunt. I am not as young as I used to be so I can get picky sometimes. I know that there can be some very good targets in amongst it because I have dug some. I have to say that the cooler weather helps for the iron patch. I have a lot of respect for the hard core relic hunters that dig some very intense iron, they find some amazing stuff. But I can understand wanting to use heavy equipment to even the odds. good luck on your endeavor.

Professor of Engineering · Sep 10, 2017

Looks like a fun relic hunt! :occasion14:

trapperart · Sep 10, 2017

Congrats

pepperj · Sep 11, 2017

relic nut said:
The old iron can be fun to dig, but I have to be in the mood. Should be some great stuff mixed in there. Good luck.

HH, RN

Thanks Relic Nut
I'll take what ever this site gives me as I have to work at getting a keeper out. I hear you on the right mood for digging iron.
Best of luck on your next outing.

Diggin Dude · Sep 11, 2017

Nice digs!! Congrats and HH

pepperj · Sep 11, 2017

Scrappy said:
That's a lot of Iron brother! And big pieces to boot. I bet there's some old stuff under there like you said so if you can do a lease and remove some of that iron, you'll be into some goodies. I'm glad you got out Pepp

Thanks Steve
It's one of those go to sites when all the other options are off the table. I have told by the locals this part of the field was commonly known as machinery hill, its proven to be like a bone yard for bits of everything related to farming. One of the owners told me that the blacksmithing shop was on the other side of the property, but I'm debating that now with all the iron concentration, clinkers, forged iron bits that I've dug. I know where the well sits, the cellar impression, but have to hit the ash pit.

Ahab8 · Sep 11, 2017

Looks like you're in the right spot for some early stuff buddy. Trust the process my friend

Mzjavert · Sep 11, 2017

Boy that is some hard digging. Nice keepers though.

sandchip · Sep 11, 2017

Ain't no telling what may come outta there. Neat finds.

digger460 · Sep 11, 2017

Love that old iron. Nice assortment too! Congrats on the relic dig.

park pirate · Sep 11, 2017

Wow lots of scrap their..

pepperj · Sep 11, 2017

Professor of Engineering said:
Looks like a fun relic hunt!

Thanks PE
I'm always hoping for the best from the hunts that take place there.

trapperart said:
Congrats

Thanks Trapperart

Diggin Dude said:
Nice digs!! Congrats and HH

Thank You, and HH back also your way.

Ahab8 said:
Looks like you're in the right spot for some early stuff buddy. Trust the process my friend

Thanks Abe

Been a busy and trying year up here with too much rain and not enough time at the site. I might do a couple sift test pits and see what transpires this coming weekend,

Mzjavert said:
Boy that is some hard digging. Nice keepers though.

Thanks

Actually at this site the spade slides right in, if it was heavy clay this iron would be still laying in the ground I'll say that.

sandchip said:
Ain't no telling what may come outta there. Neat finds.

Thanks sandchip

I've had some real nice surprises already, George Washington Button, Match safe (well one side), brass powder flask, tokens, and enough iron to keep a blacksmith happy.