Silver Hawk’s Civil War Relic Hunt

[truebrit]

Glad you made it home okay! I hope your back and legs are on the mend after your most recent adventure! I think the fact that you're going out to the soccer field is a good sign!

Sounds like you had a wonderful time in Virginia with your hunting buddies! You found some great relics, and I'm looking forward to seeing all the pictures.

I agree, you have turned out to be quite the opportunistic feeder! Gold, silver, or relics; nothing is able to elude, evade or escape the talons of Silver Hawk!

 

[Silver Hawk]

Glad ya'll made it back home safe and sound, man what a great trip. Will be waiting for the pics and thanks for sharing with us.

RIP,

Thanks.

I've cleaned up a few of the bullets that I had soaking, and I just put a new batch in to soak. After a good soaking in warm water and some Dawn Dish Washing Detergent, I clean them up with a soft tooth brush. Its tedious work but the rewards are great; they come out looking really nice.

Sharing my experience is my pleasure. I don’t know if you (or anyone else) have hunted the site of a Civil War Battle and know what I’m talking about, but I find it so awe-inspiring!

I pull a relic out of the ground that has been there since day of the battle so long ago, I hold the item in my hand and I can’t help but think of what happen on the spot during the time the relic was left. I hold a bullet and think, “Did this bullet pass though someone’s body, did it take someone’s life?"

I get to thinking on this stuff and as I look across the fields, man I can almost see the troops engaging each other! ...

I know … I spent too much time out in the woods and I lost it. ...

Perhaps I had one too many beers back at the room … Or perhaps not enough? …

But seriously, I find it very fascinating and enjoy sharing my experience with all. I can’t wait to get the rest of the bullets clean up and post the pictures.

Thanks again man, and take care.

Best Regards,
Silver Hawk

 

[Silver Hawk]

Glad you made it home okay! I hope your back and legs are on the mend after your most recent adventure! I think the fact that you're going out to the soccer field is a good sign!

Sounds like you had a wonderful time in Virginia with your hunting buddies! You found some great relics, and I'm looking forward to seeing all the pictures.

I agree, you have turned out to be quite the opportunistic feeder! Gold, silver, or relics; nothing is able to elude, evade or escape the talons of Silver Hawk!

truebrit,

I'm still a little stiff, but on the mend. A little rest and a little ice works wonders! And thank you for asking! It makes me feel loved ...

And yes I did in fact have a great time hunting with my buddies. I had a great time with them, and it was so cool being able to hunt such a cool site.

"opportunistic feeder - the talons of Silver Hawk!"

Wow, that was so scientific! Using the correct term "Talons" and not claws as so many do, man I'm impressed!

I find it so refreshing to hear someone using the correct anatomical terms. Are you a birder?

I think the fact that you're going out to the soccer field is a good sign!

Did you see my new post and the other ring I found at the soccer field? I've only covered a small part of the field so far. I was hunting the very same area as last time and using the Shoot DD 4x6 because of all the trash in the ground in that spot, and man that little gem of a coil has proved it's worth it weight in gold yet again!

Take care.

Best Regards,
Silver Hawk

 

[truebrit]

truebrit,


Wow, that was so scientific! Using the correct term "Talons" and not claws as so many do, man I'm impressed!

I find it so refreshing to hear someone using the correct anatomical terms. Are you a birder?


Did you see my new post and the other ring I found at the soccer field? I've only covered a small part of the field so far. I was hunting the very same area as last time and using the Shoot DD 4x6 because of all the trash in the ground in that spot, and man that little gem of a coil has proved it's worth it weight in gold yet again!

Take care.

Best Regards,
Silver Hawk

Thanks for the compliment about my use of terms, Silver Hawk. I have to confess, guilt is consuming me here; I did almost type 'claw', but corrected myself in the nick of time. I'm glad you were impressed, though!

On a sidenote, as we're talking about birds, a turkey vulture flew in front of the car today as we were driving to my daughter's house, and glided into the woods. It was flying away with a snake in the grip of its talons!

I haven't seen your newest post about the soccer field, so I'm on my way now to check it out! I do love hearing the play by play details of your treasure hunts, as Little Silver Hawk is taking mental notes! Little Silver Hawk wants to find her first mama or papa coin!

 

[Silver Hawk]

I posted a reply to this, I typed it, proof read it, made a correction and posted the edited post and read it after it was published. And now it's gone! Has anyone else had this happen to them?

Well, I'll give it another try.

Strange ...

The glitches of the net ...

Silver Hawk

 

[Silver Hawk]

truebit,

On a sidenote, as we're talking about birds, a turkey vulture flew in front of the car today as we were driving to my daughter's house, and glided into the woods. It was flying away with a snake in the grip of its talons!

In my post that vanished, I say that your sighting was an unusual one. Very impressive that you saw it and that you took note of just what you were seeing.

Did you know that for a very long time people wrongly believed that Vultures were raptors and member of the Falconiformes Family? And I not just talking about the common person, but even many schools still teach misinformation such as this. In fact, my son’s biology book wrongly lists the Turkey Vulture as a member of the Raptor family. When my son correctly stated it was not, the teacher marked his answer as wrong! Well, I straitened that out. And his grade was changed.

The fact is that back in 1994 science learned that Vultures that inhabiting the American continents share a common ancestor with storks and ibises. American vultures, or New World vultures, are recognized as Ciconiiformes, in the family Cathartidae. European, African, and Asian vultures are recognized as Old World vultures (family Accipitridae, subfamily Aegypiinae).

Well, if you didn’t know it, you know it now. And I’m sorry; I don’t know why I got all into that. I guess I just got carried away …

Best Regards,
Silver Hawk

 

[truebrit]

truebit,



In my post that vanished, I say that your sighting was an unusual one. Very impressive that you saw it and that you took note of just what you were seeing.

Did you know that for a very long time people wrongly believed that Vultures were raptors and member of the Falconiformes Family? And I not just talking about the common person, but even many schools still teach misinformation such as this. In fact, my son’s biology book wrongly lists the Turkey Vulture as a member of the Raptor family. When my son correctly stated it was not, the teacher marked his answer as wrong! Well, I straitened that out. And his grade was changed.

The fact is that back in 1994 science learned that Vultures that inhabiting the American continents share a common ancestor with storks and ibises. American vultures, or New World vultures, are recognized as Ciconiiformes, in the family Cathartidae. European, African, and Asian vultures are recognized as Old World vultures (family Accipitridae, subfamily Aegypiinae).

Well, if you didn’t know it, you know it now. And I’m sorry; I don’t know why I got all into that. I guess I just got carried away …

Best Regards,
Silver Hawk

.

 

[Silver Hawk]

Well, I just cleaned a few more of my bullets and I'll just let the next batch soak overnight. I have some sleep to catch up on. ... :yawn:

Good night.

Best Regards,
Silver Hawk

 

[Silver Hawk]

Hi guys, I haven't forgotten. I finished cleaning up the bullets this morning and started photographing my finds. I should be posting pics very soon.

Best Regards,
Silver Hawk

 

[truebrit]

Hi guys, I haven't forgotten. I finished cleaning up the bullets this morning and started photographing my finds. I should be posting pics very soon.

Best Regards,
Silver Hawk

We are all waiting on tenterhooks!

 

[Silver Hawk]

Civil War Relic Pictures Added

Here are some of my Civil War Relics that I recovered on my recent hunt in Virginia.

<a href="http://s438.photobucket.com/albums/qq106/GCBStokes/?action=view&current=IMG_2237.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i438.photobucket.com/albums/qq106/GCBStokes/IMG_2237.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a>
(3) Dropped - .58 Cal. 3 Ring Minie Balls White's MXT with EXcelerator 10" DD Coil

<a href="http://s438.photobucket.com/albums/qq106/GCBStokes/?action=view&current=Fired58CalMinieBallsDropped69CalMus.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i438.photobucket.com/albums/qq106/GCBStokes/Fired58CalMinieBallsDropped69CalMus.jpg" border="0" alt="Fired .58 Cal. Minie Balls &amp; Dropped .69 Cal Musket Balls"></a> Fired .58 Cal. Minie Balls & Dropped .69 Cal Musket Balls Recovered With My White's MXT with the EXcelerator 10" DD Coil and the White's 6x10" DD Coil

<a href="http://s438.photobucket.com/albums/qq106/GCBStokes/?action=view&current=Fired54caliber3-ringmachinegroovedm.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i438.photobucket.com/albums/qq106/GCBStokes/Fired54caliber3-ringmachinegroovedm.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a>
Fired .54 Caliber 3-Ring Machine Grooved Minie Ball recovered with my White's MXT with the EXcelerator 10" DD Coil at 14 inches.


<a href="http://s438.photobucket.com/albums/qq106/GCBStokes/?action=view&current=CivilWarUniformStampedTinTrouserBut.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i438.photobucket.com/albums/qq106/GCBStokes/CivilWarUniformStampedTinTrouserBut.jpg" border="0" alt="Civil War Uniform Stamped Tin Trouser Button (CWB501)"></a>
Civil War Uniform Stamped Tin Trouser Button (CWB501) - July 24, 2009 - Virginia (KA-Farm) - White's MXT with the White's 6x10" DD Coil. (Button Was Cleaned)

<a href="http://s438.photobucket.com/albums/qq106/GCBStokes/?action=view&current=658Cal3-MinieBalls.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i438.photobucket.com/albums/qq106/GCBStokes/658Cal3-MinieBalls.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a>
(6) Fired - Mixed Cal. 3-Ring Minie Balls found with my White's MXT with the EXcelerator 10" DD & White's 6x10" Coil


To see my other finds from this trip, view my album, “Silver Hawk's Civil War Relics - Recovered in Virginia July 23, 2009 through July 26, 2009.”

View Album At: http://metaldetectingforum.com/album.php?albumid=656

Best Regards,
Silver Hawk

 

[Pilot Dood]

Thanks for posting the pictures! The bullets and button cleaned up nicely!! It was well worth the wait! Congrats! I can only imagine what the planed path of each of those bullets was!!

 

[Silver Hawk]

Thanks for posting the pictures! The bullets and button cleaned up nicely!! It was well worth the wait! Congrats! I can only imagine what the planed path of each of those bullets was!!

Thank you Pilot Dood.

The Fired Minie Balls I was not all that concerned about getting them real clean, just an overnight soak in water with Dawn Dish Detergent and then some scrubbing with a tooth brush. I could have cleaned them up a little more, but I though leaving a little of Virginia’s Soil on them makes them look more rustic.

The Dropped Minie Balls on the other hand I wanted to get as clean as possible. I had my friend clean them over night in his (Sonic?) cleaning machine after I soaked them over night and clean them with the tooth brush. Then I soaked them again and clean them with the brush one more time afterwards.

The button was in really bad shape and I wasn’t sure just how much cleaning I should give it, it any at all. But I decided to put it in the tumbler to knock off the major corrosion and pitting with some water, fine aquarium gravel and Dawn Dish Detergent for about 4 hours. Then I ran it for about 8 hours in water and play sand with a little Dawn. And I’m very pleased with the results …

Yeah, those Fired and Mushroomed Minie Balls really make me think. As I held them after digging them up I couldn’t help but think to myself, “Did this pass through or kill a Civil War Soldier and did lie here after being hit and die?” Deep ….

Happy Hunting & Safe Flying.

Best Regards,
Silver Hawk

 

[RIP]

Congrats Silver Hawk nice finds, and yes they make you stop and think.

 

[Pilot Dood]

I always have been interested in the civil war, my father especially but since we live in South FL we don't have the opportunity to hunt for CW relics here, so I enjoy seeing other MD'ers cw finds. I am an airline pilot, but recently I got layed off which led to my new hobby, I just wish I had started this a few years ago because when I think back to all the places I have flown into and many of those places were in or around cw sites, as well as many other potential MD sites of different kinds such diff beaches all around the country mountains around the 49th parallel (gold prospecting) I lived in Boston for about a year so there are many historic places there to hunt. Here in FL my choices are limited to the beaches, parks and totlots, not that there's anything wrong with that, I mean for 2 months of detecting I think I have done quite well.
a few years ago while I was in flight training, for 2 years I lived in Vero Beach, FL. which is on the treasure coast, and the site of the 1715 spanish fleet wreck but never thought of MD'ing back then. but now it's only a 2 hour drive from me, so I have been secretly praying for a Hurricane to hit that area (of course I wish no harm to any person or their property) but a good storm like that could really pop out some old silver and gold cobs that have been buried for nearly 300 years! Well sorry to rant a bit. Thanks again, and I look forward to your next adventure!

~Ari

 

[Silver Hawk]

Pilot Dood,

Your right on about the storms and I look very much forward to them for this reason also. And I concede, I’m a little weird and I’m quit fascinated by storms and their power.

My dad was in SAC and I spent some time growing up in Homestead, Florida (on Homestead AFB ) before moving to South Dakota where I spent most of my childhood and my teenage years. My parents now have a home in Port St. Lucie and have been splitting time between Jersey and Florida.

I think you are Southeast of Lake Okeechobee and about 1 ½ hours to 2 hours away from my parents?

Flying from place to place most certainly affords you some opportunities in the field of metal detecting; there is no question about that.

Sorry to hear about you being recently laid off. I do hope your prospects of getting new employment in your field are looking good? While you’re working, you have one of the coolest jobs in the world. I envy you!

Best Regards,
Silver Hawk

 

[Silver Hawk]

Congrats Silver Hawk nice finds, and yes they make you stop and think.

RIP,

Thank you sir.

They make you think and feel the history. Its so damn cool ...

Best Regards,
Silver Hawk

 

[NCBounty15]

Good job on the bullets, very cool and humbling at the same time! I even like the ones that were fired! And 14 inches!!!? How obvious was that target? HH
NC

 

[truebrit]

Thanks for sharing the photos of relics recovered from your hunt in Virginia!

When looking at the pictures, I can't help being transported back in time to another era. Each of those bullets has a story to tell. If only they could speak! And the button turned out beautifully after the cleaning. Well done!

It must have been a heady experience walking on that turf, knowing that it was such a historically significant location! I think I would have been very emotional in the same situation!

 

[Silver Hawk]

Good job on the bullets, very cool and humbling at the same time! I even like the ones that were fired! And 14 inches!!!? How obvious was that target? HH
NC

Just to let you know ahead of time I had to take some Vicodin short time ago. I’ll do my best but if you can’t make head of tails of what I write, you at least know why.

I know the Dropped Bullets and Musket Ball are valued higher and are what everyone likes to recover. But like you, I like the fired bullets as well. In fact, I'm more fascinated by them. Like I mentioned in my post above, I dig and hold in my hand a mushroomed bullet and I think on it and wonder if it wounded or took a soldiers life.

Just think on that, you get a good signal and dig a bullet that someone held, put into their musket rife and fired at someone over 145 years ago. And you’re standing on a spot where the person shot at may have die more the 145 years ago from the bullet that you’re now holding in your hand. I could help but feel for the people who fought, were wounded and/or died there so long ago.

Okay, onto recovering the bullet.

Using my MXT and hunting the side of a small slop and the base of the slop, I was using my EXcelerator 10” DD running in the relic mode with the gain at +1 and actually got a pretty good signal reading Bullet with a VDI of 47. It was a faint, but clear. What I like to call and loud wisher. Then I stepped to the side and dialed-up the gain to +2 and then +3 and signal dig get louder, but the VDI was now bouncing between 37 and 52 and even shot up into the 60s.

This was right at the base of the slop. What has happened is over time many things that were once on the side of the slop washed down and is slowly being coved up deeper and deeper as time goes on. The area was farmed before and after the war and there is a lot of junk and iron mixed in with the relics as well as over top of the relics. So I pinpointed my target at 12 inches and I started digging. I got down to 12 inches and ran my coil over my dirt pile and found some iron and a hand full of bottle caps and a jar lid. But I was still getting the bullet signal coming from the hole.

I then used my Vibra-Probe 580 and pinpointed the target on the bottom of my hole near the back wall. Then I used my shovel to cut a 6x6 plug 4 inches deep and ran my Vibra-Probe 580 over the plug and got a good response, and sure enough two inches from the bottom of the plug was the .54 Caliber 3-Ring Machine Grooved Minie Ball!

I have no doubt that I could have hit one of these Minie Balls even deeper.

So, not only did I recover the bullet at 14 inches, I found it though a layer of junk and iron! The EXcelerator 10” DD on the MXT is one heck of a deep seeker. I’ve dug “Silver” Dimes at 11 inches and Half-dollars at 12 inches with this coil. And we get very similar results with the White’s D2 10” DD. Though I think the EXcelerator gets just a little deeper, at least on my MXT.

Oh, and the EXcelerator does very well on the M-6 as well. ...

Best Regards,
Silver Hawk