I hear many people say they don’t bother to dig iron targets. I love them. I think they can be very interesting and full of history. I went to an 1800’s quarry today, which is now conservation land. It was very steep terrain and my lungs aren’t that great so I wasn’t able to go very far. I didn’t find anything as old as I’d hoped but it was a lot of fun. In only one hour I found a brass Reese padlock, I think a knife, an ax head, 2 musket balls?? and a few .22 bullets (one flattened), the last 2 pictures I’m unsure of. I was thinking maybe it is 2 wedges used for splitting rocks as it is an old quarry, and the last picture I have no idea. I’m sure somebody here knows. If you have any ideas on age or identification of any of these items let me know. I’m only guessing. Dig Iron! It’s where the history lies!!
Fun iron full day at old quarry
- Thread starter Newblue
- Start date
jruckman38
Elite Member
Nice hunt. Man I dug a big old brass lock the other day came in on the nox 600 32 33 thought i had another half dollar.
Thanks you. I briefly thought the lock might have been a coin but my pin pointer suggested otherwise. Way too large of a target to be a coin. Alas, the fleeting moments of hope. Fun day though.
Ron 71
Forum Supporter
I hunt a spot that has quite a few square nails and my Nox loves em, I usually know it but I'm afraid the first one I decide not to dig is gonna be a nice seated half or something 
I'm out there to have fun anyway and I like the history behind some of the iron finds too. Congrats on a nice hunt! I haven't dug an ax head yet but would like to, preferably somewhere near my truck
I'm out there to have fun anyway and I like the history behind some of the iron finds too. Congrats on a nice hunt! I haven't dug an ax head yet but would like to, preferably somewhere near my truck I hunt a spot that has quite a few square nails and my Nox loves em, I usually know it but I'm afraid the first one I decide not to dig is gonna be a nice seated half or something
I also find old nails quite frequently, but I’m learning. I must admit I started heading back to my car soon after finding the ax. They sure do weigh you down.
cellrdwellr
Elite Member
I hunt a spot that has quite a few square nails and my Nox loves em, I usually know it but I'm afraid the first one I decide not to dig is gonna be a nice seated half or something
Yep, some deep nails sound SO similar to coins. I dig 'em everytime, and 9/10 times, sure its iron, but theres that 10% that has produced some really nice deep coins... cool relics! Good luck out there!
RockieBoston
Full Member
Were you down at Quincy Quarries? I'd love to detect there but wouldn't know where to start. Totally cool if you don't want to say.
No it wasn’t Quincy quarries. Go for it!
Albatrosdva
New Member
- Joined
- Oct 13, 2021
- Messages
- 29
Newblue, that folding pocket knife in your first picture, is very old. Google search 18th-century folding knives and you will find ones very similar. You are correct about the wedges. They are so flared out on the top because they started out as axes but became wedges when the eye of the axe broke.
lumbercamp
Junior Member
- Joined
- Jan 7, 2012
- Messages
- 83
The 2 wedges are not stone wedges. They appear too small to be felling wedges, they may be bucking wedges.
