Gary's Metal Detecting Forum
Gary's Detecting forum => General detecting talk => Topic started by: rabert on December 09, 2016, 05:08 pm
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Hi,
I wonder if anyone may like to comment. Most of you will probably think my thought process 'odd' - one may understand ! Here we go .......
I am just wondering why people do metal detecting - is it hard work? I would be upset to find personal lost jewelry. I wouldn't like the limelight of finding a Saxon Hoarde (but would love to find some history). A feew lost £1 coins ...... not really. What are the chances of finding just the odd few, isolated Medieval coins etc., - on a beach ??
Must admit I've enjoyed seeing some young chaps enjoying the beach with their Labrador in Felixstowe (wuff wuff) - so funny and the lad enjoying the countryside's scenery. Both thought it a bonus if, after the fresh air and exercise, they found just a little something. Perhaps that's the answer ??
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I can't speak for the beach side of the hobby as I have only been once, although I did enjoy the fun of it. On the farms I just find the scenery and the complete change from anything else I do to be enjoyable and relaxing. And you never know what your going to find so every now and they you get a bonus. I have made some good friends too.
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There is a physiological term for what we do I was told it was the buz of anticipation that you feel when you get a good signal.
However I think most of use simply like being in the countryside the views and nature, once on the way home I saw a Barn owl on a fence post with a mouse in its talons, two weeks ago I was in a pasture field it was frosty with a mist and a fox hunt rode through.
I know a lot of metal detectorist are also anglers.
When I go on the beach it's just the waves and a chance of a few bob from the sand.
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Hi there,
Luv your replies. I like the term "buzz of anticipation". I shall remember that one. I think that's where I must be - so thanks for that. It seems to sum it up nicely. What a treat to see an owl etc., That makes me quite keen to buy the machine and start the dream !
ttfn.
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I have a number of reasons for being a detectorist.
As one of the very oldest active detectorists it keeps me young in mind an body despite mother nature trying to take her course.
When I get the call to go home I don't want a marker,but have the satisfaction of my retrieved finds from yesteryear in museums and catalogued finds boxes,
Many of these cataloged finds boxes are now with farmers and landowners families to be handed down to future generations rather than being left in the ground to rot away.
Another good reason is to be at one with nature as many folks don't have the chance to walk and share the countryside with the wildlife
Yet another good reason to detect is the research prior to the dig which has been made so easy with the advent of the internet.
Mind you I still have all the research books from over the years which still come in handy once in a while.
Well there are a few of my reasons to have a desire and need to be a dirt fisherman.Jerry.
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Hi Jerry,
That really is a Fab u lous response. It sounds, well, sort of full of reflection and wisdom and memories. Well done that man. How long have you been detecting for?
ttfn
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My first machine was in the late seventies.
Having been retired for 24 years, I can and have been going out for 3 times each week.
I hope to keep going for a few more years yet.
Happy Hunting,
Jerry.
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Hi Jerry Treasyrem
That's class - I am so impressed. Keep up the good work and enjoy. Well done = your a very fortunate young man.
ttfn
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Being out in the fresh air,getting exersize,seeing some wonderful sights......it's a brilliant hobby.Also,the feeling of excitement and anticipation of whats under the coil when you get a good signal never goes away, no matter how many years you have been detecting. :)
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11 months into the hobby and my first Roman coin today. I ran around the field with my arms in the air like a big kid !!
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Well done Keith,hope you get many more. :)
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Once the headphones are on, the outside world and any problems or worries vanish for a few hours. Excercise, anticipation, finds, nature its a great hobby.
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Congrats Keith. Well done. What a great image you have conjured up! Keep up the good work.
Hi Witsy, That sounds fab. I understand exactly what you mean. I am exactly the same when I'm painting - I'm sort of "in a zone", music on and the world (and Brexit) - is floating by!
You are all so encouraging.
ttfn
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Psychology....sounds like a job for the serious Freud squad ;D
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I actually got started very reluctantly
I was in a very bad place at the time in my life and a mate came round to see me he had been detecting a few years and had often mentioned I would like it
I used to say your having a laugh trudging round a muddy field full cow poo digging holes ? what an anorak you got no chance
well as I was so depressed and no will power I gave in we went into this bloody great big hilly ploughed field and after a quick tutorial with his spare detector off I went it bleeped and I dug mostly junk I got a large horseshoe that I was pleased as punch to find and well remember thinking this is going over my backdoor and maybe will bring me some luck
about 20 mins later I looked in my handfull of dirt and could see the most beautiful bright silver coin I had ever seen I dropped the detector ( big mistake)
and ran over to my mate I think I have found something really good !! he looked at it and said you jammy git you have only gone and found a roman silver denarius
I said how old is it ? his next words hit me like a sledgehammer !
he said I am not sure but roughly 1600 years old at a guess
and you could be the first person to hold since then too
at that moment I though OMG ! I am holding history in my hand and I have been hooked ever since
Now the stinger in the tail !!!!!! remember I said I dropped the detector ? well being a novice my spade was lying flat on the ground too so when I went to return
the field looked all the same ! it took me and my pal about an hour to find the bstd lol since that day I have always stood my spade upright in the ground
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Hi there Rootsy Tootsy,
Your comment made me giggle - very funny !! Errr..... yes......
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Hiya Willy Muffitt,
Loving your story. I take it that your 'in a good place now'? I do hope so.
I can really understand the bit about the coin - all those years. You and your mate's thought process would be exactly the same as mine. I'm like that when I visit castles in different areas. i.e. who, and when, and why and the circumstances?? If only money could talk, it would have some great tales to tell. You just can't begin to imagine the history and the life of that coin. What happened to the coin? I love old coins and enjoy just looking at them and showing them to others. (not found coins).
Enjoy and thanks for the encouragement.
ttfn
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I actually got started very reluctantly
I was in a very bad place at the time in my life and a mate came round to see me he had been detecting a few years and had often mentioned I would like it
I used to say your having a laugh trudging round a muddy field full cow poo digging holes ? what an anorak you got no chance
well as I was so depressed and no will power I gave in we went into this bloody great big hilly ploughed field and after a quick tutorial with his spare detector off I went it bleeped and I dug mostly junk I got a large horseshoe that I was pleased as punch to find and well remember thinking this is going over my backdoor and maybe will bring me some luck
about 20 mins later I looked in my handfull of dirt and could see the most beautiful bright silver coin I had ever seen I dropped the detector ( big mistake)
and ran over to my mate I think I have found something really good !! he looked at it and said you jammy git you have only gone and found a roman silver denarius
I said how old is it ? his next words hit me like a sledgehammer !
he said I am not sure but roughly 1600 years old at a guess
and you could be the first person to hold since then too
at that moment I though OMG ! I am holding history in my hand and I have been hooked ever since
Now the stinger in the tail !!!!!! remember I said I dropped the detector ? well being a novice my spade was lying flat on the ground too so when I went to return
the field looked all the same ! it took me and my pal about an hour to find the bstd lol since that day I have always stood my spade upright in the ground
That's a nice little story Willy.
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I have made some friends for life with this fantastic hobby of ours.
It also allows detectorists to shut out the outside world for a chosen period of time.
We have 3 generations detecting in my family and it's nice when we get out together
Mitchell my 16 year old great grandson recently got the bug.
Happy Hunting.Jerry. ;) :)
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for me its an escape from the pressure of work,out in the field you can see so much around you all sorts of wild life, and when you find some thing not just a coin its then you start looking into the history of it, i found a token a few months ago it was a port sea promissory token with a george and dragon on one side and a ship with a salmon on the other,i spent a while on the net and found it was made by 3 pub landlords in Portsmouth the ship the george and dragon and the salmon was the name of one of the landlords' was then looking into wether the pubs still existed,i think it was called the original beer token so its the thrill of the looking into where these items come form.
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Hi Paul,
Thanks for an interesting and educational post. I have no idea whatsoever about tokens ....... etc., all the what's and the why's so if someone is willing to educate me further, I'm not proud to be told.
Many thanks for all your help and knowledge. It really is very fascinating.
regards and ttfn
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Hi JBM
That must fill you with such happiness. 16 years and getting the bug. What am I missing. I will certainly take up this hobby. It may be a little late, but hopefully I will enjoy the buzz as someone appropriately said. I know it's silly, but I've had so many dreams of finding a biscuit tin! Now then... err.... when were biscuits first made in tins??? lol.
Enjoy
ttfn
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I have telesopes to look into the sky and I have metal detectors to look into the ground. Only my metal detectors pay for their own stuff, where as the telescopes don't.
Both are a lot of fun.
HH
Mike