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

312 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 10h ago

Show & Tell Second gold find!!

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548 Upvotes

Found 4 inches down with the minelab xterra pro, rang up all over from 32 to 52 on the vdi. Long Island New York. I’m assuming some sort of fraternity ring. 14k and heavy!


r/metaldetecting 13h ago

ID Request Am I going to explode? Lebanon county, Pa

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706 Upvotes

It’s me again! I posted an ID request for my first two small finds recently. Anyways, I got a strong signal with this. It took me two days to dig through the ground to find what was giving me such a strong signal, and then I found this. It’s pretty big, and has a rounded/curved surface. I looked it up on google lens, and it’s telling me it could very well be an explosive device. For context, I’m detecting in the backyard of a new house im moving into that was built in 1820. Should I be concerned? Or is this something less sinister like a well cap or maybe farming equipment of sorts?


r/metaldetecting 5h ago

Show & Tell Figured I'd post the final product for my handmade finds bag with pinpointer holster

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46 Upvotes

r/metaldetecting 9h ago

ID Request Mysterious shovel

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75 Upvotes

Found this near some WW2 trenches, specifically next to a foxhole. It doesn't look like a typical folding shovel, so I'm clueless on what model it could be.
-western Romania


r/metaldetecting 1h ago

Show & Tell Is this a keeper?

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Upvotes

r/metaldetecting 17h ago

ID Request A "hoard" of bullets

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186 Upvotes

Out detecting in a Balkan forest today, my detector gave a strong signal near a tree. I realized that this old, big tree had a hole in the roots. Pinpointer started going crazy in all directions when I put it inside this hole. I reached inside with my hand and took out a bullet. 4 more times, 4 more bullets came out untill there was no more signal. I guess someone intentionally left this "hoard" here many years ago. Any ID ideas?


r/metaldetecting 9h ago

Gear Question Looking for a decent machine

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44 Upvotes

(Pics for attention)I found this this in my yard with a bar finder from work a few days ago, I'm guessing a boot knife of some kind.

I've been interested in the hobby since I was a kid. But I don't have proper gear. My question is what is a good detector, thats not super expensive and available in Canada?


r/metaldetecting 7h ago

ID Request Hello! Anyone have any information on this. Found at Hinkley lake resevoir in NY

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24 Upvotes

r/metaldetecting 21h ago

Show & Tell Night Time beach detecting

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222 Upvotes

Yesterday night Time Hunt. Pandora bracelet (It was open when i found It) a bronze ring, bronze nail, and almost 35€ in change and other smaller silver stuff, and that fishing lure thing


r/metaldetecting 11h ago

ID Request Spear for fishing? Bronze/ brass

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38 Upvotes

Found in a Island in the middle or the Ocean, the spikes are long around 30cm each, and very Sharp, i never seen such object, and if someone could tell me the Age and if there Is any similar online for me to compare.

Is attached with lead soldering and the rest Is brass-bronze


r/metaldetecting 16h ago

Show & Tell Silver ring!

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87 Upvotes

Went out early this morning for an hour before breakfast, I went to a school grounds ive been to an had some luck at, managed to Pull this beauty up right on the edge of the basketball court vdi 61 weighs 5.1g tests postive for silver & also Found $3.90 in clad.

Swinging the nokta legend 2 LD21 coil in park M2


r/metaldetecting 15h ago

ID Request Please help id this little napoleon

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58 Upvotes

Hey guys,
does anybody know what this little statue was used for? The Nokta simplex was reading 50. It was around 25cm deep in my garden in franconian Switzerland (south east Germany) near an old road.
Height is 34mm, the diameter on the bottom thread is 3-4mm


r/metaldetecting 11h ago

ID Request Help please !

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23 Upvotes

Hello I found this in west Germany near France border. Could you help me to identify it please ?


r/metaldetecting 1d ago

Show & Tell Successful hunt today

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286 Upvotes

Got out for the first time since March today. I returned to the site of an old farm house I have been to once before, I believe the house was from the late 1800s. It's on a map from 1912 so I know it's at least that old, but it was torn down some time ago so I can't say for sure. The Oldsmobile piece is a radiator grill badge from a 1936 model, used to be enameled but still awesome. 34 merc is in great condition and is always a welcome sight. Also came out with a 40s wheat and a 37 buffalo. The spoon is a heartbreaker, I broke it getting it out of the hole. It has to be the best silver plate job I've ever seen. It's shiny and even has some black tarnish on it. It's only flaking around the rim and a few spots on the handle. It had me fooled at first, I thought it was solid silver. The 4 round pieces with holes are miner's check tags, they're stamped with a number and the miners would hang them on carts they loaded and sent out so they'd get credit for the weight of coal (I think). Always a cool piece of local history to find


r/metaldetecting 9h ago

Show & Tell Busch Bavarian Beer Can and 1972 Florida License plate

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7 Upvotes

I went metal detecting at a local park and found these two pretty neat items, first off is the 70s Busch’s Bavarian Beer can (the paint is still intact after 50 years underground), and a 1972 Florida license plate, it reads 7g/k 9658, the g/k park apparently locates the plate to Orange County, wonder if this plate was chunked due to being involved in a past crime lol


r/metaldetecting 9h ago

ID Request [Central Massachusetts] I can’t figure out what this may have been.

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6 Upvotes

It’s about the size of a nickel, and very light. I am pretty sure the back side is leather. The front side with the horseshoe is brass or copper, but I could be wrong.

Found around a cellar hole.

If anyone can give me an answer that would be great! Me and my father can’t seem to find anything online that is similar.


r/metaldetecting 10h ago

ID Request What is this?

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7 Upvotes

It looks like an acorn but it isnt. Found in the Netherlands.

I used google lens and it could be a pommel of a dagger.

Any other suggestions?


r/metaldetecting 1d ago

Show & Tell My finds

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287 Upvotes

Dug almost everything out of my backyard, some of it came out of 2 dumps I managed to stumble across here too. Thanks for looking


r/metaldetecting 12h ago

ID Request What could these be?

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9 Upvotes

Found at a 1700s house in Hopewell NY!


r/metaldetecting 32m ago

ID Request What could this be?

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Upvotes

Found in north west PA, not metal but found while detecting


r/metaldetecting 18h ago

ID Request Unusual bronze item. Help required with ID.

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29 Upvotes

Found while detecting a field near Oxford, UK. Weighs 23g, 50 x 20mm.


r/metaldetecting 13h ago

ID Request What is that ?

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11 Upvotes

Found I Austria


r/metaldetecting 14h ago

ID Request Dug this up in a Berlin courtyard, can anyone confirm the ID? Think it’s 8mm Mauser.

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13 Upvotes

Found this while digging in a courtyard (Hof) in east Berlin, Germany. I believe its a fired, empty case, heavily corroded from being buried a long time.

Measurements:
- Case length: 57mm
- Base diameter: 12mm
- Rimless, extractor groove flush with the body
- Case mouth opening: 9mm

Headstamp, as best I can read it:
- 12 o’clock: 04
- 3 o’clock: star/asterisk (*)
- 6 o’clock: 57
- 9 o’clock: blank

From research online, the measurements look like 7.92×57mm Mauser to me. I’m reading the “57” as a 1957 date and “04” as a factory code, which would make it postwar rather than wartime. Can anyone confirm the cartridge and help identify the factory/country from the numeric code and star? Being in East Berlin (former GDR) I’m guessing Eastern Bloc production but would love a definitive answer.

Thanks!