First month with Etrac: Silver count climbing...and whats this key?

TrpnBils

Hero Member
Jan 2, 2005
870
1,234
Western PA
🥇 Banner finds
1
🏆 Honorable Mentions:
1
Detector(s) used
CTX 3030
Primary Interest:
Metal Detecting
First month with Etrac: Silver count climbing...and what's this key?

I started detecting in 2005 and went through a low-end detector and a mid-level detector prior to picking up this Etrac from Keith at Fort Bedford Detectors about a month ago. As of May 1st, my silver count since 2005 was exactly zero (although I think I got an earring maybe a few years back). I know that brand loyalty is a point of contention, so I won't say that I know my rising silver count that started the first night I had my Etrac is undoubtedly related to getting this detector, maybe they're totally unrelated....but I can safely say it sure wasn't happening with either of the other two, even in the same places I'm hunting now.

Anyway, these are from the past couple of hunts, all from an old school. The ring is a .925 and has some kind of blue stone in it which I'm not sure is real (I know next to nothing about that sort of thing, but I know to look for a stamp on the ring), and the mercs are in decent shape. The back of the '43 is amazing actually, and I can't believe it's been in the ground that whole time.

The Indian is actually from a couple of weeks ago but I never posted it so I thought I'd throw it on the scanner with the rest of these. I got that one from a cellar hole site I'm going to hit again this weekend, and for it being what I would consider a semi-key date, I'm hopeful I can find some more there!

Any idea what the key is? I vaguely recall seeing something like this before, but I couldn't tell you what it was from. It's like that on both sides, and was found in a school yard dating back to 1926 (although I found a Barber dime in there, so I'm not sure what was there prior to the school).
 

Attachments

  • 6-12-14.jpg
    6-12-14.jpg
    30.6 KB · Views: 173
Upvote 7
The thing about the metal detecting hobby is that as your confidence grows your finds generally increase. Sort of a Star Wars effect. You have a machine you're confident with and you're, pardon the expression, using the force. The more you learn the E-Trac the better hunter you'll become. You'll probably hit 50 silvers by the end of the year. Way to go.
 

Nice finds! Congratulations!
 

The key looks like it goes to a one armed bandit slot machine.
 

It's for a Ford Gum Ball machine, I think.
 

It's for a Ford Gum Ball machine, I think.

Interesting...Do you have any link to some information on that? I'm not seeing anything online that looks like it, but I have a feeling you've got a reason for saying that and aren't just guessing.
 

Nice finds. GL&HH.
 

I understand hunting same spots with a different machine and getting results. I've had mixed results, but I found more things than before when I went to a higher end machine. In my case the new machine gave me a little bit more depth or maybe I should say, a better reading at a deeper depth.

Slot machine key. google images of slot machine keys, many images look just like yours.

I just love seeing mercs come out of the ground. One of my favorites !!!
 

I understand hunting same spots with a different machine and getting results. I've had mixed results, but I found more things than before when I went to a higher end machine. In my case the new machine gave me a little bit more depth or maybe I should say, a better reading at a deeper depth.

Slot machine key. google images of slot machine keys, many images look just like yours.

I just love seeing mercs come out of the ground. One of my favorites !!!

The pictures I've seen of the slots keys that look like this all look like they're short. This one is approximately the size of a standard vehicle ignition key...did they come that big?
 

As an eBay Associate we earn from qualifying purchases.
OK.... thats a cool key. I pick locks for a hobby (no robbin stuff). I'm sitting here visualizing horizontal pins set in vertical tumbler pins. You aint gonna pick that lock with a regular set of picks. I bet those lock types would have jammed up leaving the key stuck if heavily used.
 

Congrats.Looking good.HH
 

I'm dumbfounded by the fact that you found no silver whatsoever in 9 years of detecting. But it seems that some people have difficulty finding certain coins when others find hoards of them in the same areas. It's almost like a block. My block seems to be Silver quarters of any age. In 3 years, not one single silver quarter. I've found lots of dimes, and even an 1864 Half. But those ever elusive silver quarters baffle me every time. Anther thing I noticed with Hunters is once the block has been broken, they tend to find many of the once blocked coins. Kinda weird. Just saying.


I hope you fine lots of silver with your eTrac.

HH
MariposaGold.
 

Top Member Reactions

Users who are viewing this thread

Back
Top