Colonial House Detection

[Johnnyl1]

So I got to detect a house from 1770 in Nortwest CT all day today... spent 4 hours digging around. The lady who owned it said someone got there before me, about 20 years ago...

I started at the rear yard which used to be the front, and worked my way around... ground was pretty soft in most spots, except is shady spots where it was impenetrable. I looked away from teh house for srea that could have been junk cellars, etc... detected them , to no avail.

Found alot of modern stuff, no coins (I was surprised at this), but did find the attached...

can anyone give me a rough date on this by the look? It was pretty deep, about 7-8 inches pointing straight down in the ground. Right near what was once the front door.

It's 6 inches long on teh blade, and then the shaft is an inch and a half... blade is an inch wide at its widest point...

I wonder if it is old? The blade is pretty wide to be a modern knife and it looks pretty rugged, been in the ground a long time I presume.

Also, the ACE 250 is a pain (at least for me) to pinpoint with...

I am using the larger coil, and I swear I couldn't figure the pinpoint spot on the coil... I would get horizontal readings from side to side in front of me, but when I tried to "cross" it, no reading... also, the pinpoint function on the 250 is kind of a joke...

Any tips would be much appreciated.

 

[Johnnyl1]

Can't post the image...

Can anyone help???

 

[Krom]

That year you posted, Johnny (1770) is where you want to be. So what if someone detected it 20 years ago! You have a waaaay more modern machine, and with waaaay better abilities than the old-timers had on thier machines.
As for the picture... it looks like the inner door handle to the 2nd Apollo mission space shuttle capsule. Put it on E-Bay!!!
(Jus' havin' fun with ya, Johnny. They do it to me all th' time! )
Don't give up on that place, man. Hit it hard when the ground's better for penetratin'...!

 

[angellionel]

Yeah, that site should be treated as if it has never seen a coil pass over it, and worked accordingly.

Angel

 

[Johnnyl1]

Can you guys

Can you guyse even see the picture???

I thought it did not post?

 

[angellionel]

I don't see a pic.

Angel

 

[Johnnyl1]

How can I post one? Can anyone help me post it?

I really want you guys to take a look at this knife... I think it may be pretty old...

I can only hunt the land until February... owner is selling the house then and I won't have any more access... kinda sucks... wish I had one summer to dig it,.

 

[Krom]

Tell the new buyer that you're an attic case from the family that owned the place before it was bought, and that you grew up there... and you lost your Tonka truck, and you'll die if you don't find it. (act a bit "retarded" if and when you see fit... that should work! )
(and, of course, when you go there to do a hunt, have a pocketful of clad to show them upon inquiry {snicker!}...! That always works too! 8))
There... there's your tip.

 

[Johnnyl1]

Trying to post a pic

Got It!!!!

What do you guys think?? How old?

It seems very wide to be modern...

Wondering if the handle shaft indicates age...

 

[OkieDigger]

Doesn't look like a 1770's blade to me. I would think the rust would be much much worse. Maybe more of a mid 1800's to late 1800's. That's my two cents and it's probably not even a good two cents.

 

[Krom]

Looks like an old butter knife. I got about 10 of 'em.

 

[Johnnyl1]

How old

How old do you think?

 

[TerryEastTexas]

Like Krom said hunt it like it's never seen a detector. I haven't used the large coil yet Johnny. Did you have any problems pinpointing with the standard coil?
Krom how did you know how I acted around owners.

 

[Krom]

Works, don't it, Terry!?!

 

[Johnnyl1]

Why does

Why does my pic keep disappearing? Can someone help me.

I'm really interested in seeing how old this knife is...

Can someone help me out, I've gotten some great help on this board and want to learn more about this find...

I've posted pics 3 times now and gone back and seen them in the post and then they disappear after a follow-up.

Please help, guys

 

[Johnnyl1]

PS-- No problems with the standard coil.. .I am going back next weekend for the last time... I'll bring the standard it pinpoints a million times better... I dont know, the larger coil may just be a bit finicky and I may not be used to it... it does go deep though,

 

[MoDigger]

If I had to make a guess at the age of the knife I would say it's early 1900's. For one, if it was say from the 1800's it's condition would probably be much worse and the other thing is that it doesn't look hand forged to me. It also has a half tang hilt. (the little part sticking out at the bottom) Half tang hilts are common for mass produced knives.
I would keep looking though, I doubt some guy 20 years ago found all the 1700's period stuff. Good luck,
MoDigger

 

[WThesing]

As far as gaining access to the property, some of you may remember my post in the old forum about park access. A little variation would be to show up in your yellow jumpsuit and hardhat with your clipboard and MD. Tell them your from the EPA, and you are running a standard inspection that is free of charge to all new homeowners. The state is trying to keep a lid on all ground contaminants, and will remove any possible sources of pollution. Don't forget the wheelbarrow, caution tape, and little flags to stick in the ground.

 

[Johnnyl1]

Thanks

Thanks guys... any recommendations on where I should look this coming weekend? The house is set back from the original road about 30 feet, what used to be the backyard of the house is all paved over...

Is there any rationale to looking around?

Also, can you recommend any diggers that can get through frost that I can buy at Home Depot or locally? It's going to be cold all week and I have a feeling the ground is gonna be frozen...

 

[Cfmct]

Johnnyl1


If you live up in Litchfield and you are detecting there, I think you will have to wait a spell... After todays snow and now they are calling for a bigger storm up your way middle of the week...