Hi all, i also dug this fork today on the short hunt. It sure looks like silver and came out of the ground looking pretty good. The area the I think would have a mark is worn down. So I was wondering if it really is silver and how old you think it is. Thanks for looking.
Based on looks, probably silver, probably ca 1850-1880. Acid test is only way to know. If it came out of the ground looking like that, it is probably silver.
If you intend to send it in for melt you can use a propane torch to test. Heat it red hot and if it is plated you will see the plating 1. flow away from the heat. 2. When it cools the base metal will show. 3. a thick silver area like the handle will be very hard to heat up with a propane torch. Base metal of copper turns green and there is green in the torch's flame surrounding the heated area, pewter turns a light white, nickel silver turns black. One other thing. If heavily oxidized, the torch's flame will turn the oxidation back to a nice silver color.
I use this method on old silverware I am sending in for melt. I also use an acid test but felt both tests make my results more predictable.
Garrett ace 250 with Sniper & DD coil with a Sun Ray Probe ,BountyHunter 101/BountyHunter pinpointer Dredge/highbanker combo, Mini Trommel, Blue Bowl and other stuff I dont use very often..lol