Alleged Florida Shipwreck Found

"Claims by a local treasure hunter that there is a century-old shipwreck off our shores got a boost from a former diver in the area.

“I’ve seen that wreck,” said Joe Mecko, of Madeira Beach, after reading a story on the subject in the Beach Beacon.

The article told about Jim Leatherwood’s discovery of shipwreck artifacts while metal detecting on the beach in Indian Rocks Beach..."

Read more HERE.

Mass Authorities Search for Gun

"Police scoured snowbanks along Rte. 9 near Sherwood Plaza in Natick today, looking for a gun that may have been ditched following a reported road rage incident in Southborough.

Using a gun-sniffing dog, metal detectors and a thermal-imaging camera, police searched along the road from the shopping center to Speen Street but did not find a weapon, Natick Police Lt. Brian Grassey said.

Southborough Police Sgt. Sean James said police questioned a Natick man but did not bring charges against him because there was no evidence a crime was committed."

Read more HERE.

Image Credits: Allan Jung for Daily News and Wicked Local

Russian Farmer Digs Gold

"A Russian turnip farmer who hoped to get rich by buying a metal detector to look for hidden treasure dug up a hoard of gold jewelery worth more than 1 million GBP.

But dozy Gennady Zimin, 51, from Annenkov said he thought the trinkets were junk, and asked a pal to put them on ebay for 50GBP.

He said: 'I got the metal detector second hand. I had always heard local talk of treasure around here but I would have been happy with some scrap metal.'"

Read more HERE.

Image Credits: europics.at

Florida Police Use MD in Wake of Shooting

"...

Sheriff's investigators spent much of the overnight hours looking for clues into the Tuesday night death at the corner of Washington and Oak streets in the Mission City unincorporated enclave near New Smyrna Beach's west side.

Sheriff's officials are not releasing the victim's name, saying they were waiting until her family had been notified.

Neighbors living within sight of the crime scene said hearing gunfire in the neighborhood is not unusual."

Read more HERE.

Image Credits: Mark I. Johnson / Daytona Beach News Journal

OIF Ring Returned

"As Tim Boyce combed the Wildwood beach for metallic treasures, his metal detector suddenly spouted a series of chirps.

He found something special and now 16 months later, it's back on the hand of its owner.

Boyce's find wasn't the typical metal button, coin or Matchbox car that's he's collected and stored at his Deptford home.

The buried men's military ring had a clear owner someone named 'Bowdish' who served in Operation Iraqi Freedom, according to the ring's inscription."

Read more HERE.

Image Note: May not be actual ring, just a representation.

Cali's BIG Nugget

"A property owner with a metal detector in the Sierra community of Washington unearthed a gold nugget worth about $250,000.

The nugget weighs about 10 pounds, but it's worth more as a collector's item because it's the largest nugget in California.

Mining experts said the 49ners just missed finding it. Instead, it got covered up with their mining debris.

'This is what it's all about. This is what brought thousands to California and it's the last one,' said expert Fred Holabird."

Read more HERE.

St. Augustine Divers MD For Evidence

"...

Divers said the pond was at least 40 feet deep and were seen repeatedly clearing long green weeds off the tether rope as well as a metal detector being used to search for more weapons. The search was continuing Tuesday afternoon in the same section of the pond.

The Jacksonville and St. Johns County Sheriff's Offices would only confirm they were helping in a joint investigation."

Read more HERE.

Image Credit: Bob Self/Morris News Service

Where are the Hydrants?

"If you saw an Easton firefighter with a metal detector over the last few days, he or she was looking for buried treasure. Treasure, that is, in the form of some of the town’s 230 fire hydrants buried by this winter’s heavy snow.

'We’ve got them all done — this is the last one,' said Firefighter Mike Sabia, who was digging out a backup hydrant on Center Road near Town Hall as the sun set on a chilly Monday afternoon."

Read more HERE.

Portland News Features Beach Hunt Photo

The Portland Press Herald (Maine) online featured a fellow hobbyist, Pete Lamontagne, in a pictorial.

Been awhile since I've seen one of us featured in just a pictorial, not since that Santa Cruz daybreak beach photo back in September..

Image Credit: Greg Red/The Portland Press Herald

Cumbrian Roman Coin Hoard

"John Murray, 66, was amazed to find 308 Roman coins, some thought to be nearly 2,000 years old. The hoard was concealed in a smashed pot a few feet below the ground at Beckfoot, near Silloth.

It is the second major Roman find in Cumbria, following the Crosby Garrett helmet which was unearthed by a metal detectorist last May.

Bearing the heads of various emperors, the coins have been taken to the British Museum for restoration and analysis."

Read more HERE.

Image Credit: News & Star

eBay Odds 'n Ends

For the sake of passing time, I found myself on eBay today going through looking at various metal detecting related auctions. It's fun to see what's out there at any given time.

I came across two auctions for extremely low bids on both a Cen-Tech (Harbor Freight) pinpointer and also one of those Autmax V4 pinpointers that KellyCo gives away with their bundles. I've been wanting to do a "Pinpointer Comparison" and once I get five different models, I'll give it a whirl. These two would make five.

Anyhow, these items caught my eye while browsing:

-Lego Metal Detectors
-Green Army Man w/ Metal Detector
-Sterling Metal Detector Hobbyist Pendant
-Gold Plated MD Hat Pin

White's Blue & Gray

I came across this image and thought it a ruse... I couldn't have been more mislead. I've never heard of this little known White's variation on their 5900 / 6000 / XL Pro models. Do any of my readers own one? Known someone who does?

I'd like to know more about it if anyone has info to offer, thanks :)

Seems to be the perfect machine for you relic hunters out there scouring CW sites!

Aussie Couple Enlists Help to Get Ring Back

"Newlywed Kha Pham was devastated when his wedding ring slipped off while he was swimming on the Gold Coast this week.

But he was determined to get it back.

He and his wife Alisha Donovan searched the waters inside The Spit for hours without success, and then returned the next day with two employees of a metal detecting company in a desperate attempt at the impossible."

Read more HERE.

Image Credit: Jay Nel-McIntosh

Ring Recovered After Month in Snow

"A Birkdale grandad discovered the diamond ring his sister lost in the December snow with a metal detector.

Dennis Rimmer, 71, tracked down the ring on Christmas Eve after spending days scanning a patch of snow and ice in Ainsdale.

Joan Godsall had just enjoyed a meal in Dolce Vita on Liverpool Road when the golden wedding anniversary ring flew off her finger into the night as she tried to clear the snow from the family’s car, which was parked outside the Italian restaurant."

Read more HERE.

Northern CA Hobbyist Helps Authorities

"Humboldt County District Attorney investigators say they've made major inroads toward resolving the case of McKinleyville man Jerry George who went missing a year ago and is believed dead.

Acting on recently obtained information, investigators combed an area along U.S. Highway 101 near McKinleyville on Tuesday and Wednesday, clearing brush and searching for evidence using metal detectors. The activity follows the arrest of two relatives of accused murderer Jacob Charles Steele in mid-December, and the testimony of another man who said he initially helped dump George's body."

Read more HERE.

Image Credit: Times-Standard

Colonial Australia Finds

"Local collector and metal detector enthusiast, Mark Thurtell, has found a very rare colonial stockman’s best buckle on a site between Grenfell and Forbes.

Mr Thurtell has an extensive collection of colonial artefacts which he has either purchased or found himself using metal detectors, but he said that he has never found anything as rare as this belt buckle, which commemorates the opium wars between England and China.

'Over the past 15 years I’ve seen hundreds of belt buckles,' Mr Thurtell said.

'But I’ve never seen one with this design before.'"

Read more HERE.

Image Credit: The Young Witness

Out of This World Find?

"Shropshire has become known as a haven for suspected UFO activity with experts being called in to try to determine what strange sights in the sky actually are.

But now a county man is calling for help for another unidentified object – which he found underground with a metal detector. Bill Thibert, from Ludlow, discovered the metal object while out with a metal detector in woods opposite Moor Park School."

Read more HERE.

Image Credit: Shropshire Star

Facebook Leads to Ring Recovery

"A miracle is what Sarah Wheeler was hoping for when she posted a Facebook message and that's exactly what she got.

The Glenfield resident lost her engagement ring on Takapuna Beach while playing in the sand with her son Ethan.

She felt it slide off and went into a panic."

Read more HERE.
Edit:Another article republished on Mar 4th, 2011 HERE.

Image Credits: Ben Watson / North Shore Times

In Living Color: Jim Carrey + MD

Thought a good way to start of the New Year would be with some comedic relief from a February 1994 episode of In Living Color titled, "Background Guy at the Beach at Spring Break."

In it you'll see "Background Guy" using a metal detector... and what does he find? Another metal detector! HAHAHAHA. Hilarious!

What kind are they? Maybe a early 90's Bounty Hunter model?

Happy New Year!

Hope you all ended 2010 right and I pass on my wishes to you for a wonderful year in 2011 regarding not just the hobby, but all aspects of your life.

And don't forget... if you're looking for great seasonal deals and quick, fridnly service for hobby related items, be sure give my buddy John Tomilinson of John's Metal Detectors a call (or visit whis website). He'd be happy to have you!

Jimmy