I'd like to get started in this. Anybody got any reccomendations for a good starter kit? Not too pricey and used is always an option. Also what are the laws like on this in France? Is it just a matter of getting the landowners permission? I'd do my own little bit of France first just for practice! There was a lot of resistance and SOE activity near me.
French policy Detecting in France from Detecnicks An Ace 250 is pretty cheap and can get good results. Minelab X-Terra Series are excellent for relics and coins. I'm heading to the Czech Republic for 10 days detecting next year and at least will be spending one day doing a battlefield from the 1700s. A long trip from Australia but its a hobby that get in your blood. Check out Treasurenet and you'll be amazed what they find TreasureNet Forum - Index
The Ace 250 (I've been using mine since June this year) is a great unit for relics and everything else, but for starters I would recommend maybe the Ace 150 or even a cheaper Bounty Hunter (my old, back-up unit) just to get the feel of things. Minelabs are kinda' expensive but are well worth the investment--I would suggest working up to one of those later. Please remember to be safe while detecting. There's still lots of live stuff left, and after all these years the detonators and explosives etc. can be very unstable and unpredictable. Even small arms' cartridges can go-off at any time--especially if the primer is struck by accident! I find all kindsa' interesting things all the time, most of which I have no idea what it is! If in doubt, just leave it and inform the proper authorities a.s.a.p.! You may look like a kook, but at least you'll be alive!! Some East European websites: www.detektorweb.cz (Czech) www.wikingkutatocsoport.com (Hungarian) www.battlefield.ru (in English also; great forum!!) www.roncskutatas.hu (Hungarian but English topic section in forum) www.zhe.hu (Hungarian) Happy hunting, and be careful!!!
Like I mentioned previously, be careful: The two mortars I found MD-ing this past Sunday are inert, but I had to leave some stuff for local EOD. By the way, does anybody recognize these--it's not a quiz!?!?
Sorry for the long wait before answering... ....NE Hungary, at the site of fierce infantry battles in Nov-Dec '44 between the axis powers (especially Hungarian forces) and Romanian troops backed by the Soviets! These two beauties are not the only items found at this particular location:
Well, reviving an older thread, I got a metal detector for Christmas from the wife. Its nothing too fancy, but its enough to see if I get on with it as a hobby. Its an Altai Treasure Seeker 2. Seems to be reasonably well equipped, lots of knobs to twiddle, has a reasonable amount of adjustment for discrimination etc. Just need to find some places to go detecting here in the UK first and then I'll give it a run over my land in France.
Congratulations!! That's a great gift for Christmas. One problem though: I think your wife will be sorry that she got it for you--once you've been infected (by the detecting "bug"), a good part of your free time will be spent doing that. Preventive suggestion: Take the wife with you sometimes on short hikes; even get her some camo gear, boots, spade, etc. If you find some jewelry, then she'll be hooked too!!! One more thing: Those areas where you "break-in" your new machine should also be searched again at a later time, once you've gotten the hang of things!! Happy Hunting!! Be careful!!
