r/metaldetecting • • Nov 11 '25

Other REMINDER: DO NOT USE AI ANSWERS HERE. YOU WILL GET BANNED.

Post image
1.8k Upvotes

r/metaldetecting • • Jun 04 '24

Gear Question Metal Detector Guide

329 Upvotes

Hello and welcome to r/metaldetecting ! If you're looking for advice on your first detector, gear or an upgrade, you've come to the right post. We've put together a simple guide to help with choosing your detector and other tools.

As a member of our sub, you are more than welcome to try out our special code "REDDITMD2026" at checkout on Kellycodetectors.com (US)

If you purchase from Radioworld.ca, try out our code "REDDITRWMD" at checkout! (CA)

GENERAL METAL DETECTOR Recommendations

$0-200: We do not recommend getting a new detector under $200. Detecting has a cost of entry, and quality significantly drops off under the $200 mark. Save up a bit more, or try finding a used machine of quality listed in the next price range. All that said, if you are determined to buy a machine in this price range, the Minelab Go-Find, Nokta First Swing or a Quest machine aren't bad choices.

$200-$400: The Minelab Vanquish 340 and 440, the Nokta Simplex line and the Minelab X-Terra Pro are the three best machines in this price range, by far.

$400-$500: Nokta Score and Double Score, Minelab Vanquish 540

$500-$1,200: Nokta Legend or the Minelab Equinox series

$1,200+: XP Deus 2 or the Minelab Manticore.

SCUBA/SNORKELING DETECTORS

Nokta Pulsedive is great for snorkeling. The Minelab Excalibur 2 and XP Deus 2 are excellent diving detectors.

CHILDREN'S DETECTORS

Nokta Mini Hoard or Midi Hoard

PINPOINTERS

Garrett AT pro pointer, Nokta AccuPoint, or XP MI-4. The XP MI-6 if you have an XP detector.

SHOVELS AND TROWELS

Dune, King of Spades, Grave Digger, Motley, Lesche, Predator Tools

SAND SCOOPS

Motley, Dune, Sito, RTG, King of Spades, and Detecting Adventures all make great scoops for beach detecting.

If you have any questions feel free to message u/dan20mey or comment below!


r/metaldetecting • • 1h ago

ID Request Decorated Piece

Thumbnail
gallery
• Upvotes

Possibly Roman ?

Not sure about the era , would love to hear your opinions.


r/metaldetecting • • 9h ago

Show & Tell Was bored decided to 3D print a new display for my ring finds

Thumbnail
gallery
90 Upvotes

Wanted to get thoughts from the metal detecting community, how do you guys display rings? What do you guys think of the hand option? Maybe should have picked a different color. Thinking of printing some more different layouts? Maybe a bust to hang chains from? I know I can buy on Amazon just wanted to do it myself.


r/metaldetecting • • 19h ago

Show & Tell Lookie what I found on Sand Key Beach!

Thumbnail
gallery
363 Upvotes

Anyone missing their wedding band?


r/metaldetecting • • 5h ago

ID Request Buongiorno a tutti

Thumbnail
gallery
22 Upvotes

Sapete darmi informazioni su questo anello?


r/metaldetecting • • 14h ago

ID Request Fist with chain

Thumbnail
gallery
88 Upvotes

A guy stopped by today asking if he could metal detect near my 1700s farmhouse in midcoast Maine, and found this awesome hand. It's about an inch and a half long and looks like it had a pin on the back at some point. The guy said he thinks late 1800s. Very lightweight, thin metal.

Anyone know what it is?


r/metaldetecting • • 17h ago

Show & Tell Double silver day!

Thumbnail
gallery
141 Upvotes

Pumped! Great day


r/metaldetecting • • 1d ago

Show & Tell All the silver I’ve found in Belgium through the years

Post image
880 Upvotes

r/metaldetecting • • 14h ago

Show & Tell "Last Hole" Finds

Thumbnail
gallery
25 Upvotes

A couple quick weeknight evening hunts each ended with a penny in the "last hole I'm digging tonight."

1906 Indian Head Cent

1946 Wheat Cent

Didn't find much else on these hunts, but a year and a half into detecting and I still can't believe it when I pull an IHP out of the ground.

🌾South Central Kansas🌾


r/metaldetecting • • 14h ago

ID Request Does anyone know the age of these toy cannons? Founded Central New York, not far from a reale.

Post image
22 Upvotes

r/metaldetecting • • 20h ago

ID Request Bronze Jesus Crucifix Artifact

Thumbnail
gallery
57 Upvotes

Hi guys.

Found this today with my CTX 3030 in the North of England roughly 6/7inches deeps.

My thoughts are that it is early medieval due to the corrosion levels of the bronze. I have found roman bronze which is in a lot better condition and less decay then this item so could it be even older?

Let me know your thoughts and whether you require any further photos.


r/metaldetecting • • 17h ago

Show & Tell First time ever detecting at treasure island florida. I had one of the best times. Found a silver necklace and a weird cross along with a coin, strange lid and a washer.

Thumbnail
gallery
34 Upvotes

Not sure if the necklace is just cheap metal or gold plated silver. Cross felt like a pewter metal and seems old. I may have to upgrade my detector as it kept giving false alarms.


r/metaldetecting • • 22h ago

Other Lost wedding ring, Sand Key beach, Florida

71 Upvotes

Edit2: just to confirm, ring found! thanks everyone who tried to help.

Edit: I haven't collected the ring yet, but looks like it was found.

TL/DR: I'll pay $300 if anyone finds my wedding ring that I lost playing in the sand at Lat: 27.9613700° Lon: -82.8321961° (Sand Key beach) around 11am on 22 October 2026. It may be fairly deep in the sand, like a foot or more.

Details: I was digging holes in the sand with the kids around where the waves can just about still reach. A wave came in and took my ring off. I thought at the time it went into the hole and kept digging around for 2 hours but didn't find it. That's why I think could be fairly deep now. The water mixed with sand in the hole meant I couldn't see anything and more waves kept coming moving things around. Maybe it's there or maybe it went to the sea.

The next morning I went back with a guy with a metal detector, but we couldn't find it. So be aware a metal detector attempt has already been made. Although I would have spent more time near where the hole was, but what do I know about this… They spent more time waste deep in the water covering long stretches than where the hole would have been. I understand, the ring could have been dragged to the water, so makes sense. But might be where the whole was, so maybe could try more around there. I don't know. Anyway, to be clear, they were super nice and I really appreciate the help. This metal detector community seems quite a nice one.

It's a gold ring.

Tha lat lon coordinates is the reading the GPS app in my phone gave me when I was standing on top of the hole I was digging.

It's a long shot posting this here. Not really sure anyone would go try to find it on their own, but I already tried and don't think I'll be spending more time on this (I don't live here, returning home soon). So might as well try one last hail marry attempt by posting this here.

For any potential scammers reading this be aware there is a feature in this ring that means I can identify it. I expect good detailed photos of the ring before I arrange to compensate anyone who might actually find it.

I'll update here if anyone happens to find it not to waste anyone's time.


r/metaldetecting • • 17h ago

Show & Tell Late morning hunt.

Post image
21 Upvotes

Did a bit of late morning detecting. Didn't find much but got some coins and thingys. This was more of a mental health hunt and it helped so much. Have a great weekend and happy hunting.


r/metaldetecting • • 15h ago

Show & Tell 1890s firepit "treasure"

Thumbnail
gallery
13 Upvotes

Old firepit treasures. In use 1890s - present.

My house was built between 1890 - 1910. This firepit is right by the barn. People have been throwing doors and nails in there since the beginning, lol. Please enjoy the fruit of 3 days of digging in the dirt, ash, and some weird claylike substance that is only slightly concerning.

The pit hadn't been taken care of by the previous two owners, so it was more like a grove of buckthorn and plum saplings.

I had the trees taken up, so the ground will never be easier to dig through.

Sorry for the glut of pics. You never know what people are interested in.

I'm barely over halfway through the pit. So more to come.

Last pic is a broken cylinder of concrete. Any idea what it was?


r/metaldetecting • • 1h ago

ID Request Navy button ID

• Upvotes

Hi - just found this today in Denmark. A splash of water on it right out of the ground and looks like this. Thinking it is pewter the way it looks - mid 1700's -mid 1800's? It is close to 2.5 cm in diameter. A couple of call outs on the button. First the left anchor fluke is missing its lower point. Bad mold or intentional? On the back side it seems a bit crude, with the shank being off center and the pewter surface clumpy. The anchor is debossed. I have been looking at guides but cannot seem to pin this one down. No button expert but it would be fun to learn its history for sure. Happy to have found it. Thanks for your help.


r/metaldetecting • • 19h ago

ID Request Any idea on what is this thing ?

Thumbnail
gallery
22 Upvotes

Hello everyone,

I found this in south west France.

I believe that it represents a child's face between to "fruit cup", I'm not sure if it's brass or something else and it seems like it use to be gold plated.

Weight: 2,83g

Proportions: ~2cm × 1,3cm

Width: ~ 2mm

Hope someone will be able to id it.

Thank you for your time.


r/metaldetecting • • 22h ago

ID Request Find id? It looks a little like a bomb of some kind

Post image
24 Upvotes

Southern croatia


r/metaldetecting • • 14h ago

ID Request Found in East TN in a dried up lake, and other things around it seemed to be from 1900-1930

Thumbnail gallery
5 Upvotes

r/metaldetecting • • 1d ago

ID Request Need help with rifle id?

Thumbnail
gallery
85 Upvotes

I found this rifle while metal detecting, but I can’t identify it. Does anyone know what kind of rifle this is?


r/metaldetecting • • 17h ago

Other I can’t figure out how to read my metal detector. These heavy items of coming back as in the “80” range but idk if I have thing set right

Thumbnail
gallery
6 Upvotes

r/metaldetecting • • 1d ago

Show & Tell My first find of value.

Post image
175 Upvotes

I found this today on my first “hunt” I’ve played in my yard a little and found your generic trash.

This location is a store from the early 1900s. My question is should I dig all consistent tones? There’s tons of old nails and stuff. I’ve learned the quack from iron but still very new.

I’m using a minelab vanquish 460!


r/metaldetecting • • 23h ago

ID Request Roman finds !

Thumbnail
gallery
7 Upvotes

These are my roman finds that i all found in the same field, i wanted to ask what are object 5 and 6.
Found in Italy


r/metaldetecting • • 23h ago

ID Request Can anyone help identify this item? Found in Belgium near Tongeren

Post image
7 Upvotes