r/metaldetecting Nov 11 '25

Other REMINDER: DO NOT USE AI ANSWERS HERE. YOU WILL GET BANNED.

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1.8k Upvotes

r/metaldetecting Jun 04 '24

Gear Question Metal Detector Guide

314 Upvotes

Hello and welcome to r/metaldetecting ! If you're looking for advice on your first detector, gear or an upgrade, you've come to the right post. We've put together a simple guide to help with choosing your detector and other tools.

As a member of our sub, you are more than welcome to try out our special code "REDDITMD2026" at checkout on Kellycodetectors.com (US)

If you purchase from Radioworld.ca, try out our code "REDDITRWMD" at checkout! (CA)

GENERAL METAL DETECTOR Recommendations

$0-200: We do not recommend getting a new detector under $200. Detecting has a cost of entry, and quality significantly drops off under the $200 mark. Save up a bit more, or try finding a used machine of quality listed in the next price range. All that said, if you are determined to buy a machine in this price range, the Minelab Go-Find, Nokta First Swing or a Quest machine aren't bad choices.

$200-$400: The Minelab Vanquish 340 and 440, the Nokta Simplex line and the Minelab X-Terra Pro are the three best machines in this price range, by far.

$400-$500: Nokta Score and Double Score, Minelab Vanquish 540

$500-$1,200: Nokta Legend or the Minelab Equinox series

$1,200+: XP Deus 2 or the Minelab Manticore.

SCUBA/SNORKELING DETECTORS

Nokta Pulsedive is great for snorkeling. The Minelab Excalibur 2 and XP Deus 2 are excellent diving detectors.

CHILDREN'S DETECTORS

Nokta Mini Hoard or Midi Hoard

PINPOINTERS

Garrett AT pro pointer, Nokta AccuPoint, or XP MI-4. The XP MI-6 if you have an XP detector.

SHOVELS AND TROWELS

Dune, King of Spades, Grave Digger, Motley, Lesche, Predator Tools

SAND SCOOPS

Motley, Dune, Sito, RTG, King of Spades, and Detecting Adventures all make great scoops for beach detecting.

If you have any questions feel free to message u/dan20mey or comment below!


r/metaldetecting 1h ago

Show & Tell Old Party house yielded…

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Upvotes

Homeowners explained to me about 15-20 years ago this old homestead was a renowned party house outside of town.

Lots of beer cans, clad, and a few wheaties today. I’m not going to lie I did laugh when I found this


r/metaldetecting 3h ago

Show & Tell Best silver coin spill yet!

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76 Upvotes

Found today at local park in Buffalo, NY. I almost didn’t dig it because the signal was faint and inconsistent. 1960 penny and a 1962 Canadian penny were stuck to the quarter. They are in great shape suggesting this spill occurred sometime in the mid 60’s. I’m unsure why the signal was so iffy. Using a manticore with the m8 coil.


r/metaldetecting 11h ago

ID Request Any ideas?

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204 Upvotes

Found in central Maryland, near an abandoned homesite that was abandoned over a century ago. On the back it looks like a pin could have been there, but it's flat.

Army Corps of Engineers? Civilian Conservation Corps?

Thanks


r/metaldetecting 8h ago

ID Request Any ideas? Found in Bosnia

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89 Upvotes

r/metaldetecting 4h ago

ID Request What is this odd thing I found while metal detecting near Sacramento?

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38 Upvotes

The round things look like hinges. Could be part of a clock as I found the innards of one nearby, not sure though.


r/metaldetecting 7h ago

ID Request Bronze ring, found in N.Italy. How old could it possibly be?

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24 Upvotes

r/metaldetecting 20h ago

Show & Tell Antique bayonet.

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228 Upvotes

An antique bayonet found while metal detecting in a field in northern Spain. It's a shame that the tip is broken.


r/metaldetecting 9h ago

Cleaning Finds Found a porcelain vintage sign today (1950-1960), best steps to preserve it?

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32 Upvotes

We put it in a tub underwater with lukewarm water and (vegan) green soap to soak it over night but what are the best next steps to dry and clean/preserve this?


r/metaldetecting 15m ago

Other Pellet gun

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Upvotes

Found this pellet gun in a forest near me a while back, should I have just left it there or even reported it

Didn't think much about it because it's just a pellet gun but I've come to see that they aren't all that harmless


r/metaldetecting 5h ago

ID Request What is this?

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11 Upvotes

Found in the Netherlands in a field. It’s partly bent.


r/metaldetecting 1d ago

Show & Tell Found easily my favorite find today

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397 Upvotes

Found this beauty after roughly 7 hours of detecting in the woods. Found in Southern Maine, US. Not exactly sure how common these are around here, but I’m pretty stoked 😮‍💨


r/metaldetecting 21h ago

Show & Tell Vintage Silver Ring Found Metal Detecting.

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171 Upvotes

Found this ring while metal detecting an old park. I believe that it is silver based on the shine and the tarnish. Definitely not plated metal. It’s not magnetic. The markings on the inside are “TH-09” and “CHM”or “CMM”. Any info would be appreciated.


r/metaldetecting 8h ago

Show & Tell Awesome heavily worn Victorian penny.

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14 Upvotes

Very nice penny from 1862. The obverse also seems to be rotated in the wrong direction too.


r/metaldetecting 27m ago

Gear Question Nokta Triple Score settings for finding a gold bracelet

Upvotes

My son and I recently got a Nokta Triple Score and have been asked to help find a lost gold bracelet. Anyone have recommendations for what settings we should use and which coil? It came with two different sizes.


r/metaldetecting 8h ago

Show & Tell Trovati in Italia sud salento

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12 Upvotes

r/metaldetecting 8h ago

ID Request Bracelet or debris/hardware?

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10 Upvotes

Found on the coast of downeast Maine


r/metaldetecting 14h ago

Other What's the coolest thing you've ever found while metal detecting?

23 Upvotes

r/metaldetecting 4h ago

ID Request 3 Objetos sencillos, ayuda

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5 Upvotes

Hola camaradas, encontré estos 3 objetos hoy y no sé que son. Los 3 dan señales en el rango del bronce en mi detector. La regla es en centímetros.


r/metaldetecting 1d ago

Show & Tell BIG wheatie spill

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91 Upvotes

BIG wheatie spill! It was the end of a hot, muggy day yesterday detecting in a neighboring town and opted to hit a park's quieter, lesser-used area. So glad I did, I encountered a 20 wheatie spill in a 3x3 foot area. It was a surreal experience witnessing my Manticore continue to beep away just when I thought I had recovered my last penny. One. Two. Five. Ten. Twenty! It got to the point that the grass was starting to look beat up from all the plugs I pulled. A park maintenance gentleman stopped by to introduce himself and we both just shook our heads in amazement at the number of wheaties I was pulling up. Then, as soon as he left, I hit my second-ever silver Rosie 10 feet from the spill. All I could think about during that moment was how some young lad (assumingly) dumped 20 pennies, and possibly the dime, 68 years ago. That was a lot of money to lose in 1958 (the park opened in the early 50s)! Enjoy the photos and happy hunting out there. 😎


r/metaldetecting 11h ago

Gear Question Best boots?

4 Upvotes

I’ve been detecting for the better half of almost 2 years now and on the longer hunts feel the fatigue in my feet. What are some good boots to pickup for those longer hunts?


r/metaldetecting 23h ago

ID Request Is this part of an old stove? SE US

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40 Upvotes

Found this at a late 1800s turpentine camp


r/metaldetecting 42m ago

Other Help me identify this blob of metal

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Upvotes

Found this (without a metal detector) laying on the floor of a nearby forest

500ml monster can for comparison


r/metaldetecting 1d ago

Show & Tell My first button. Grand Army of the Republic button.

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40 Upvotes

I also found a 1946 Rosie and 1908 Indian head. I didn't think this button was anything special until I got home and looked up Scovil MFG Co and realized it was a button from a Grand Army of the Republic uniform from the late 1800s. It was a fraternal order of surviving union soldiers from the civil war. Cool piece of history!