Gerry in Idaho

Entertaining story and pics to go with it. Those little chunky nuggets are what keeps us going. The trash missed by others just goes to separate the men from the boys and you my friend are doing it right. Those of us who know, realize your time, energy and persistence is part of what allows you Success. Keep it up and thanks for sharing with some of us Frozen Northern Dreamers.

Love this story and your pics to show the VA gold. I try to get back East every other year to do some Civil War Relic hunting and meeting a few of my old Marine Corps buddies (NC, SC, GA) I've been able to convert a few of them to detecting, but they don't have the fever like I. My last trip to VA was at the 1765 Montpelier Estate, home of the 4th President of the United States, President James Madison. I was one of a dozen dealers across the US to be honored and selected to represent a metal detector to Archeologists. We showed them the benefits of modern technology by using a detector. The 2 machines I specialized in were the GPX and ETrac. In return, they showed us the importance of proper recovery of all objects and much more. It was a win win for both young and old. I remember at the closing ceremonies, I gave a short speech (yea right, me short), and said this. "I grew up from a young age 7 yr old boy with detector in hand and this is my tool to recover history. I enjoy and cherish each of my treasures, some more than others...just like you. I'm proud of my accomplishments with a detector and take pride of what I do. You learned Archeology with a brush in hand and how to use it for success. You take pride in your discoveries and the history you save. You too are proud of your work and what you do. So the reality.. we are not much different, but use varying tools/technology to achieve said success, in a way we are the same" To this day, of all my 40+ yrs of detecting accomplishments, that stands up there with pride. If I get back to VA area sometime and you'd like to see how a GPZ-7000 or GPX-6000, heck it might even be GPZ-8000 by then... let me know. I'll even let you or the land owner keep the gold, but I would enjoy having 1 nugget to add to my collection and be my 1st VA gold.

It would have been nice to have a teaser signal (the sound of the actual detector over a nugget), but I guess we'll have to wait for the next tease.

Thanks for posting the video Swegin. Hopefully my website guy has it on my site tomorrow. Of all 3 coils, I too.. feel the 10" ellip is going to be the best seller for most of my people. Heck I even sent a 2nd order...all 10" Ellips., as I already have the other 2 on my original order to Coiltek. The 10" Ellip is ideal for Prospecting nuggets on a VLF and I also like it for semi trashy sites when detecting old Coins/Relics. Hopefully I'll have some of these coils soon as I'm getting prepared for our Field Training coming up in Nevada. Boy would it be nice to be swinging, testing, selling the new GPX-6000's and the NOX coils. If I have some to take, I might even head down a few days early just to put some time on them.

You might reach out to Hobo, who posted above. He is Pieter's detecting buddy.

We'd love to see some of the VA gold when you get a chance. You have the state almost to yourself as I've only sold a few gold detectors to VA. Thanks for giving us the East Coast treat and well earned as I know it's not easy.

Good to see you on here Darrell. I know guys like you are hard to come across and especially ones (you) that has been detecting friends with Pieter for so many years. Would love to see you post on here a little more and or at least share some of your experiences throughout the 50 yrs you have been swinging detectors. If anyone needs the best Camp Fire Master, Darrell is the best. He always made sure there was plenty of wood, flame and heat to go around. Thanks for allowing us to hear a couple of your stories/experiences Darrell and I look forward to more in the future.

You bring up some utmost outstanding MD'erists names. Some are legends swinging high above and a couple are walking legends still here with us. I detected England with a few of those heavyweights and they were dang good. You know Jim, your name should just as easily be part of this group. But I'll make sure it's the part still walking among us. Thanks for the flashback down memory lane. The picture is Jimmy Sierra and I in England over 20 yrs ago.

Call my office when you get a chance and I'll run the card. I hope you do get to meet him some day.

Chuck, If dealers are sitting on a number of 5000's, I feel that is their lack of knowing. At the Worldwide Conference summer of 19 we were informed of new detectors in the makes. But only about 15% of the US dealers took the time to go. Heck we have dealer conferences in the US and can't even get a 50% turn out. No we were not told when new detectors were coming, but I expected summer or Christmas of 20 and it did not happen. Then in Aug of 2020 the mention and trademark of name "GPX-6000" was posted on here (the #1 prospecting forum in the whole USA). Why do I remember it so well? When I asked Minelab USA about it, they had no clue, which would be expected considering we are in USA and Minelab is Australia. Now when I see a trademark for a GPX name, I know something is real but I just don't know when. This late Fall I placed a good sized order of detectors and I asked Minelab USA questions. I specifically asked if anything on my order was going to conflict with anything coming out for Christmas, as the order was to start stalking for the holidays. I was told NO and I have no worries through the rest of 2020. Now, as a stalking dealer and year end, most businesses try to get the inventory as low as possible, which I did and have been for many years. So why would dealers be sitting on a bunch of 5000's now or even Jan for that matter? I realize not all dealers are the same, but those of us who have been around a while have wizened up...at least I thought so. If a dealer is complaining about sitting on 5000 inventory, I can only assume they are not paying attention. Another point I'd like to make. The GPX-6000 at a price point of $6000 is not going to compete with the GPX-5000 at $4000, in my opinion. My reasoning besides $2000, is the fact that a big part of the GPX-5000 sales are Relic Hunters in the Eastern States and now that we are getting details of the 6000's capabilities, the 5000's are still going to be the preferred CW Relic Hunter's PI detector. I could be wrong? Either way...You are missing a major point, my friend Chuck. Your wife said "go ahead". Looking forward to hearing how you like the GPX-6000 and hoping to see you at our 3 Days Training in April, at Rye Patch, NV.

Half the fun is meeting people. I’ve been fortunate in my metal detecting career to find some Gems, both in gold and in Gents. This industry has been in my family for 40+ years and 25 of it, me being a dealer of detectors. Yes in that many years of digging lead, I screw up on occasion and find a nugget or two. But on a really rare 2 moons shining, I cross paths with a Gem of a detectorist or two. (Pic below is Darrell on the left, Pieter in the middle and I holding his book) A few weeks ago I was fortunate to meet two outstanding detectorists, Gems of friends (Darrell & his detecting buddy Pieter). Heck we hunted meteorites and gold, shared a couple beers & told a story or two around a camp fire. It’s not often I find someone, let alone 2 guys who’ve been swing a detector longer than I. But….the fun and highlight of the trip was yet to come and even more precious than the gold/meteorites I dug. The last night and after Darrell had left (I wish he would have stayed). I was able sit down and listen/hear/dream of Pieter Heydelaar and his memories shared of the early gold hunts in Australia with his wife and the pounds of patches they recovered with early day VLF detectors. Pic below is Lunk and Darrell. Check out that fine 2 room camp tent. Having Darrell and Pieter in the same camp as I, around the fire, and in the field swinging side by side was just amazing. Boy I sure found a couple true treasures and well worth more than all the gold & space rocks I found. I have to give credit where credit due, so Thank you Mr. Lunk for putting this special hunt together and a few days in the field with some fine Gems & Gents. For those who are interested in prospecting Southern California and Arizona, I was able to purchase a dozen of Pieter’s book “Successful Nugget Hunting”, Volume #1. What I like about this book is the pretty detailed map and directions to some of his gold producing sites, which he describes and shares. The book is $17, but I only have 10 left. A special thanks goes out to Chef Rusty as well. His outstand chauffeur service, accommodating lodging and fine dining were top notch again. After all, what are friends for. (Pic below is Lunk on left, Pieter in the middle and Rusty on right who's mad as I ate the last slice of pie.) One thing is for sure. Even though Darrell & Pieter are 20 yrs (wiser) than I, they are hard hunters...so this young lad got schooled. That's perfectly fine with me...they earned it. (pic below is Pieter & Lunk at a meteorite site & the limo. How many of you out there know Pieter and some of his accomplishments in meteorite and gold nugget hunting? How about some of you Aussies who have been chasing gold down under for many years, I bet some of your stories are just as Golden.

The GPX-5000 used to be around $5700 and now is $4000. I don't see any price drop on the GPX for quite some time. USA does not have any more GPX-4500's to sell. The $4000 price point for the GPX-5000 is pretty spot on covering their bases (Minelab) and since so many Relic Hunters back East use the GPX-5000, it's still a good seller. Heck, Minelab USA ran out of them at Christmas.

The Auto Smoothing video...I noticed on his flat nugget the signal was reversed so I too was expecting it to be bigger.

As a dealer for Minelab, I can assure you that we are not allowed to ship outside of the country. But I do know of ways you can get one, but it will still cost more than the US price. When I did a prospecting trip to Australia years ago, after the hunt, I sold one of my detectors to a well known nugget hunter. I always take 2 on a trip in case one goes down. Yes you would have expected the luggage on the way back to be the same weight, but since I have all the gold in the suitcase, it equaled out. The other things I have done to help my customers outside of the country in years past. You come to USA on a vacation to go gold prospecting or meteorite hunting with a cheap used detector, then when its time to go home, take the new GPX-6000 out of the box, toss some cow dung on it and most inspectors won't even tough it. Last, is to have one of your friends/relatives coming to the USA and have them get one and either ship it to you, or take it back themselves. But dealers can not ship new units outside of US. Now used ones, most certainly we can. I just thought of this one. I used to take groups to Colchester, England on metal detecting tours and I imagine, if you paid them a few bucks, they would take one over for you. Either way, I wish you luck in your hunts. That was one of my favorite detecting trips for a few years.

So far, a couple of my Pre Order customers are new and feel the benefits of the GPX-6000 and cost savings is worth it. 2 other Pre Order folks are repeat customers who have been using Minelabs for many years and see the importance of getting the newer technology. They both are really big on the lighter weight, better ergonomics and no wearing a harness. As for me, I really don't care if the 6000 is better at small gold. It is better on my back, my body and my wallet. No headphone cord, no harness. The extra sensitivity and depth on small gold is just a bonus to me. Value for the buck between the 3 detectors you mentioned Steve? I will have to go back to the lighter weight and ergonomics, no harness, no headphone, less body fatigue. That's the value to me personally. Heck, we spend all kinds of money on our sore aching body. BWT. If anyone is wanting a used GPZ-7000, I'll be getting one in on trade. Contact me at www.gerrysdetectors.com

Joe, You have a security job in case your other falls apart. That's some pretty good rhythm and it reminds me when I was in Alaska chasing big gold. We used to come up with some crazy tunes and laughs while riding the famous "Gold Nugget Express" on our way out for a days hunt. Usually on the way back, most tunes were of worn out prospectors snoring away with a little shut eye .

I was told he'd sit in 1 spot on the ATV, turn the pivot and that coil would cover a swath of ground about 30 feet. He'd pull forward 2 feet and do it again, pull forward 2 feet and again. I've seen drag coils out here as well.

Probably 20" round Super Lite.

Not yet as they recently cancelled the Spring one. With enough Covid varieties, we might not make it this year at all. Most countries are still pretty strict to foreign travelers.

Glad Dave was able to make it right with you. Yes the before pic was stunning gorgeous and what you received was...aye....gold. He's been around a long time, so he understands the importance of keeping customers happy. Yes, silver wire wrap really highlights gold.

Years ago I had a wise customer who was always trying to make things better. He spent much of his free time chasing gold nuggets at Rye Patch, NV in the 90's and early 2000's (when pickings were good). He always wanted to cover ground and chase the big ones. One time he calls me to order some Coiltek coil wiring (extension) as he has long dreams. I seen him out there with his new long shaft and boy was it longer than I had expected. Has anyone seen anything similar or just as crazy? On a side note, this beautiful Horse Nugget of 6 ounces was found in the road at Rye Patch proper. Seems most of us had walked over it for years thinking a beer can in the middle of the road when in fact it was the biggest piece of gold I have seen come from Rye Patch. I know one of my Staff found a 5+ oz'er one time and Chuck/Gracie from TX showed me a 5 oz'er, but this one has character. If anyone knows of bigger gold nuggets from actual Rye Patch proper or of a longer shaft on their Minelab, I'd love to see. Enjoy everyone and stay out of my swing path, all 30 feet of it.

As much of the Kalgoorlie area I was in (very flat), the bus cold get around quite well. Nice new ride and you have rooms for tourists too.

Advice from a seasoned detectorist is as good as it gets. Now you have Karma and a couple new people who are thankful for your knowledge. Great read and thanks for sharing.

1st off Matt, Welcome to the finest and most informative gold nugget detecting forum in the US...and has been for it's lifetime. 2nd, If you have a lady (your wife) who enjoys going along on such detecting adventures, hats off to you...you have what most of us don't. X-Terra 705. Did you make a mistake on its purchase? Really doesn't matter, it's old business now and over with. But how to get the most out of that detector for chasing gold. As Chase mentioned, the most important part of coil selection is for the size of gold and what reality is of the gold you'll be finding. Small 6" round HF coil is best for small pickers. 10" ellip HF is good for ground coverage in semi rough terrain and the 9" round HF (not the 7.5 kHz 9" round) is great depth in non mineralized soils (not very often, but some tailing piles when hunting marble size nuggets and above. Is a 15" round HF coil the best for bigger deeper gold. Most certainly, but also the hardest to find and most rare. My suggestion to you. Go do it a few times with small 6" HF coil and the 10" Ellip coil and see how much fun you enjoy digging lead. If finding small bird shot lead gets you excited, then I know you have the patience to be a gold hunter. If your next go around for a detector is in the near future (within the next year), at that time step up to the Equinox 800 and you'll have a detector that can be used in salt water beaches, better than the detectors you mentioned, is a better coin/relic detector than ones mentioned and also a better nugget unit than what you mentioned. Don't worry about that...until that time arrives though. Lead is your friend and small #8 and #9 birdshot lead find shows your proper coil control and operating of the detector. Keep chasing those and sooner or later the detector will mess up and you'll actually dig a piece of gold. All pictures are some of my X-Terra 70 and 705 gold finds. I used the HF - 18.75kHz coils of different sizes for all kills. We look forward to hearing of your adventures and seeing success when it happens.