First few hunts of 2017

[Fire Fighter 43]

I'm finally getting around to cleaning and cataloging some finds. This is my take from 2 February hunts and 2 March hunts. A couple of the wheats are teens. The Indian is 1892 and the Mercury is 1941 (1st silver of the year). The metal blobs are float (native copper), the silver buckle type thing is marked sterling, a few buttons and two nice crotal bells to round out the relics. The sites were a couple old familiar sites and one was a new field that once held a 1 room school house.

[Tony Two-Cent]

Nice finds, Jeff!

The sterling item is part of the clasp from a 1920s era beaded purse.

[Digger_O'Dell]

Great finds Jeff! Also a great I.D. from Tony, I wouldn't have guessed it. Looks like you also got half of a suspender clip. The piece with the pins, I have no idea though I've found a few similar ones. Great catch with those crotals! The smooth one looks pretty unusual, I would guess it's maybe hand made and not cast?
Any idea on the scout item? Never seen one of those either.

[del]

Great start to the new year Jeff , some nice quality finds !

[Fire Fighter 43]

Nice finds, Jeff!

The sterling item is part of the clasp from a 1920s era beaded purse.

nice I.D. Tony, I was trying to figure it out, Thank you.

[Fire Fighter 43]

Great finds Jeff! Also a great I.D. from Tony, I wouldn't have guessed it. Looks like you also got half of a suspender clip. The piece with the pins, I have no idea though I've found a few similar ones. Great catch with those crotals! The smooth one looks pretty unusual, I would guess it's maybe hand made and not cast?
Any idea on the scout item? Never seen one of those either.

The scout item is a kerchief slide. I have another one I found that is the same design but it is stainless steel.

[MangoAve]

Nice finds, Jeff. The Midwest guys here were happy to find a crotal. And you got two.
I was thinkin' the same thing as Tony with the coin purse piece. All of mine were brass, but it just had the look to it.

Great catch with those crotals! The smooth one looks pretty unusual, I would guess it's maybe hand made and not cast?

Any idea on the scout item? Never seen one of those either.

I def agree on the scout item; I haven't seen a slide like that before. Might be older, or one specifically made around 1976 to have liberty on it.

As far as crotals, I think all the ones made later on weren't hand made. They look like the top is a piece of iron that was cast into the rest of the bell, to be cheaper and easier than cast shanks or drilling them. That's why they rust out and there's no longer a shank on it. I've got a few like that. No way an oxidizing iron eats away at the 'tombac' metal.

[wisconsin digger]

Great finds Jeff. I have a jar full of float copper. I always like picking up a piece or two every year. It has been apretty nice spring. WD PS, you doubled my Crotal Bell finds in one hunt.

[Ken C]

Great finds, congrats!

[Pastpursuits]

Nice finds, Jeff. The Midwest guys here were happy to find a crotal. And you got two.
I was thinkin' the same thing as Tony with the coin purse piece. All of mine were brass, but it just had the look to it.



I def agree on the scout item; I haven't seen a slide like that before. Might be older, or one specifically made around 1976 to have liberty on it.

As far as crotals, I think all the ones made later on weren't hand made. They look like the top is a piece of iron that was cast into the rest of the bell, to be cheaper and easier than cast shanks or drilling them. That's why they rust out and there's no longer a shank on it. I've got a few like that. No way an oxidizing iron eats away at the 'tombac' metal.

I found that scout slide and my research told me it was from the 50's... sold to scouts for income to restore the statue of liberty.

Great Finds!!!!

GL & HH

[OxShoeDrew]

Really nice finds Jeff! That crotal on the right have a slit on the bottom?