**UPDATED** 4th time hunting musket ball hill... Awesome relics!

[Full Metal Digger]

Hey diggers,
Today after work I went back up to "my hill." It's only a half mile away so it takes about 2 minutes to drive there. I park at the bottom and then follow one of the hiking trails up the hill for a bit and then I leave the trail and start swinging the coil as I work uphill. I found a SUPER hot spot today! The targets were only 5 or 6 feet apart. I'm pretty sure this was a muster area but maybe for local citizens. I have not found any military related items but I have found over 70 musket balls!

The first good find of the evening was a very decorative watch winder. It has glass "stones" all around the edge. I'm hoping it's 1700s but I don't know how to determine the dates of watch winders. Next I hit 3 buttons in a row and then 2 buckles in a row! Oh boy was I stoked! The shoe buckle is very early (maybe late 1600s) and the other buckle I don't know what kind it is. Any ideas from you guys? Anyway, here's some pics and thanks for looking. HH, Dave.

[Bell-Two]

That is a bunch of nice finds Dave...love that watch winder!

[Digger Don]

Slow down boy, your going to get yourself out of breath!!:lolsign:

You know me, Love the buttons! Any idea on their age?

Congrats on all the great finds, you're making me jealous!

[aloldstuff]

The shanks on those buttons makes me think they are very old. Both buckles would look good in anybody's collection. The watch winder is one of the fanciest ones I've ever seen. Great hunting and as Don said...breathe, exhale, breathe...and continue

[del]

The watch winder is stunning Dave and easily 1700's in my opinion The floral button I believe is military if i'm not mistaken

[Full Metal Digger]

That is a bunch of nice finds Dave...love that watch winder!

Thanks Tony. It looks to have gold gilt under that green so I will have to get some CLR to clean it up a bit.


Love the buttons! Any idea on their age? Congrats on all the great finds, you're making me jealous!

I think the buttons span from early 1700s to early 1800s. Odd that I'm not finding any two-piece buttons. Don't be jealous!


The shanks on those buttons makes me think they are very old. Both buckles would look good in anybody's collection. The watch winder is one of the fanciest ones I've ever seen. Great hunting and as Don said...breathe, exhale, breathe...and continue

Thanks Al, it's really hard to relax knowing there are centuries worth of good finds all around me! I think those drilled shanks go back to the early 1700s but I could be wrong about that.


The watch winder is stunning Dave and easily 1700's in my opinion The floral button I believe is military if i'm not mistaken

Thanks Del, I'm starting to notice gold gilt showing through some of the verdigris so I will get some CLR to try to bring that out. Also, you are 100% correct about the Tudor rose button! I looked it up and it is British all day long! Now I just have to figure out how it got here!

[del]

Thanks Del, I'm starting to notice gold gilt showing through some of the verdigris so I will get some CLR to try to bring that out. Also, you are 100% correct about the Tudor rose button! I looked it up and it is British all day long! Now I just have to figure out how it got here!

It looks like it could be a match to some I've seen Dave the design is almost exact , these could date anywhere from 1740's to 1775 era , Lieutenant button

[Bucknut]

Wow so many relics! Hope some more silver coins pop out of the ground for you.

[Full Metal Digger]

Hey everyone,
Here is the watch winder all cleaned up. It has a silver gilt center with gold gilt around the outside and glass "jewels." I also notice it has different cartouches on each side. I'm thinking this was a very special watch winder!

[Noah]

Terrific finds there. Was hoping to get out there to Connecticut this spring but didn't work out. Gonna have to try still before the years out. I here they are loaded with ol buttons for us Illinois folks. :lol:

[Full Metal Digger]

Terrific finds there. Was hoping to get out there to Connecticut this spring but didn't work out. Gonna have to try still before the years out. I here they are loaded with ol buttons for us Illinois folks. :lol:

Are they done with all their Nor'easters yet? I hope you and Don do get to make it out there this year.

[OxShoeDrew]

Nor'easters BETTER be done :lol:

That is sooo many muskets, Dave! I was thinking maybe a shot tower, but those are a bigger caliber. Nice job!!

[Donnie B]

I absolutely love the watch winder! I think we may have dug up the same buckle. I found this one a couple of weeks ago.63792