- Joined
- Jun 1, 2026
- Messages
- 268
- Reaction score
- 818
- Golden Thread
- 0
- Location
- Roswell, NM
- Detector(s) used
- All Garrett: Ace 250 (two), AceApex, VX-9. Have owned just about every Garrett ever made. First three detecter I made myself, with the first one in 1962.
- #1
Thread Owner
I have too many hobbies, and you’ll soon know why.
I made my first metal detector (BFO) in 1962. I lived in the Kansas City, area and based on the year, metal detecting as a hobby was an infant. I suspect Chas. Garrett was as responsible as anyone in popularizing the hobby. Yet, despite his efforts there really isn’t a national organization representing the hobby, like there is with amateur radio, save for the Federation of Metal Detectors & Archaeological Clubs, Inc. (more on this later).
I’ve been a licensed amateur radio operator longer than I care to remember (call sign KØBG). Probably the main reason the hobby has endured is relatable to the National Organization of Amateur Radio. They’re still known as the American Radio and Relay League, even though they’re doing their best shed that now archaic ARRL name.
I grew up in a sporting goods store in the KC area, hence I’ve had a life-long passion for fishing and hunting. For many years I varmint hunted across the US, fly fished with self-made flies along the way, hunted big game everywhere, and have now digressed to airguns and spin casting. I’m a charter member of the Missouri Trout Fishermen’s Association among others, belonged to several gun clubs, and shot more ammunition than some countries! Save for the NRA and a thousand or so gun clubs (mostly commercial), there is almost no representative organization with a single (non political) purpose.
The point is simply this; The vast majority of hobbyists, regardless of their pastime, are small groups numbering a handful at best. For example, the NRA’s actually membership hovers around 3 million, although they claim nearly twice that. The ARRL has about 120, 000 members from a high over twice that number. Trout Unlimited has a scant 150,000 members. The Federation of Metal Detectors & Archaeological Clubs, Inc. exists, but they don’t publish their membership numbers. I’d guess the real number isn’t large,
I am the first to recognize that the internet has spurred interest in a vast number of hobbies, metal detecting among them. This web site is included, but I wouldn’t call it a social media site like say Facebook or X. For me, social media has become a political cesspool with more ingredients than a Louisiana Stew pot!
The ARRL will undoubtedly continue for the foreseeable future. Somehow the NRA continues in spite of ex CEO and spendthrift ,Wayne LaPierre Jr. efforts! And maybe the Federation of Metal Detectors & Archaeological Clubs, Inc. will grow.
If I’m to be thankful, it is the fact the TreasureNet site still exists.
I made my first metal detector (BFO) in 1962. I lived in the Kansas City, area and based on the year, metal detecting as a hobby was an infant. I suspect Chas. Garrett was as responsible as anyone in popularizing the hobby. Yet, despite his efforts there really isn’t a national organization representing the hobby, like there is with amateur radio, save for the Federation of Metal Detectors & Archaeological Clubs, Inc. (more on this later).
I’ve been a licensed amateur radio operator longer than I care to remember (call sign KØBG). Probably the main reason the hobby has endured is relatable to the National Organization of Amateur Radio. They’re still known as the American Radio and Relay League, even though they’re doing their best shed that now archaic ARRL name.
I grew up in a sporting goods store in the KC area, hence I’ve had a life-long passion for fishing and hunting. For many years I varmint hunted across the US, fly fished with self-made flies along the way, hunted big game everywhere, and have now digressed to airguns and spin casting. I’m a charter member of the Missouri Trout Fishermen’s Association among others, belonged to several gun clubs, and shot more ammunition than some countries! Save for the NRA and a thousand or so gun clubs (mostly commercial), there is almost no representative organization with a single (non political) purpose.
The point is simply this; The vast majority of hobbyists, regardless of their pastime, are small groups numbering a handful at best. For example, the NRA’s actually membership hovers around 3 million, although they claim nearly twice that. The ARRL has about 120, 000 members from a high over twice that number. Trout Unlimited has a scant 150,000 members. The Federation of Metal Detectors & Archaeological Clubs, Inc. exists, but they don’t publish their membership numbers. I’d guess the real number isn’t large,
I am the first to recognize that the internet has spurred interest in a vast number of hobbies, metal detecting among them. This web site is included, but I wouldn’t call it a social media site like say Facebook or X. For me, social media has become a political cesspool with more ingredients than a Louisiana Stew pot!
The ARRL will undoubtedly continue for the foreseeable future. Somehow the NRA continues in spite of ex CEO and spendthrift ,Wayne LaPierre Jr. efforts! And maybe the Federation of Metal Detectors & Archaeological Clubs, Inc. will grow.
If I’m to be thankful, it is the fact the TreasureNet site still exists.
