How Old Were You When You Started Metal Detecting?

[Dances With Doves]

I was 35 and while watching the   gold fever show I decided to join and I drove the 45 miles to the man who was head of the local chapter who happen to own Wilson 's metal detectors.I went home with a Bandito 2 U max and I was  hooked.I liked panning for gold too but it was easier to  go detecting because the good  spots were much closer.

[Glenn in CO]

I was 22 and bought a Compass Yukon from my brother-in-law. Bought a A.H. Pro Backpacker for my wife three years later and both of us have been detecting and prospecting for 46 years.

[GB_Amateur]

17 years of age (1970, summer before senior year of high school) -- Heathkit GD-48.  But after 10 years of low activity I went AWOL for another 35 years and missed out on all the best USA detecting.  Water under the bridge; glad my sister relit the spark 6 years ago, and happy to say it's just as fun as it was in 1970.

[Joe D.]

   I think I was 15-16 (78'-79'), and ordered a Bounty Hunter 840 from Kellyco! (Still have it!!) I used to ride my bike around with the detector in it's bag on the handlebars, to local schools and parks to hunt! I did fairly well on silvers, and never saw anyone else with a detector, when i was out!

   That nearly got me killed once, as a car full of older kids in a Chevy POS, tried to grab it from me, as i was riding one day! I fell next to the car, and nearly got run over by the rear tire! The detector was fine, but me and the bike got some road rash! Needless to say, i looked for that car for weeks to exact some payback! But with my luck, that juvenile idea probably would have ended badly!🤣

   Like GB, i missed out on a lot of good stuff, as i didn't start back till 2015!👍👍

[Tom Slick]

it was 1975, was 21 years old and listed my high school band Saxophone in the local Green Sheet. A guy called and asked if I'd be interested in trading for a metal Detector. He had brain cancer and couldn't get out to detect, and I always wanted a detector so I traded with him. It was a White's Gold Master with a Metal/Mineral knob, and used 14 batteries if I remember. Found 36 Mercury dimes in a three foot circle next to the driveway of my 1917 house. I was hooked!

[IronDigger]

I was entering 6th grade 1980 , I still have my Detectron 7T Metal Locator built in Santa Ana, California. I am 51 today !

[Ridge Runner]

For me I’d been out the AF less than a year so I was about 25-27 and the year was 65-67. The first detector was a kit and the next year I bought a Whites BFO. Too much water has ran under the bridge from that time. I just know come May I’ll be 80 and that’s older than dirt.

 Chuck 

[Rick N. MI]

I was 16, 1972. I got a Compass 77b Pro.

[Valens Legacy]

This past year after I turned 24 I was given my grandfathers detectors ( a 800 and a Tracker IV ) when he died.

So I have not been detecting a full year yet, but I have panned for gold and sluiced for about 12 years.

 

[George Kinsey]

In 1969 I was 18. I started with a Metrotech 220 A and never looked back.