Gerry in Idaho

Steve,  Your post and comments say way more than most folks realize.  I wanted to call out a few knuckleheads and their silly comments on this forums, as they have no flippin clue what they are talking about, but as a dealer I won't do that in public.

Back in mid 90's when I started selling detectors, I was already a 20 yr veteran of the MD'ing scene and Minelab was the new overpriced stump of a log weight (bad ergonomics) foreign brand in the US trying to make a splash. I stood my ground for a year before I started selling them, as I did not drink their Kool-aide.  It was my newer customers Success and them beating the 20 yr detector veteran( me), made me realize they actually did make detectors that can do some things better than US brands/models.  

As Minelab grew, so did their R&D and so did their technologies and performance of detectors.  In all the 20+ yrs I have been selling their gold detectors, not once did they come out with a better gold detector that did not do as advertised.  Which brings me to this point.

How can someone who has never owned a GPZ-7000 trash it, but yet they call themselves a knowledgeable nugget hunter and are happy with their GPX-5000?  Come to Rye Patch and many other well known places and see how your 5000 stacks up.  I'm not saying the 7000 is best for everything, never did and never will.  Heck I'll personally take my EQ-800 over a 7000 for a variety of gold hunts (my choice).  But I have a very good understand of what each model gold detector can do as I own them and so do my Staff who are in the field more than I.  We share our detector knowledge openly to try to help us and our customers become even more Successful.  One of the main reasons we offer 3 Day Field Training.

Now to the GPX-6000.  No, I have not owned one yet, have not touched one yet, or even seen one in person, yet.  Heck I don't even know the actual price.  So I really don't know any more than the rest of the 100's of plus comments made on this fine DP forum.  But I know Minelab....

Some of the folks on here and their comments are comical of a detector we have not even touched let alone used.  There are naysayers putting down something they know nothing about and this drives me nuts.  You have much more patience than I do Steve and hats off to you.  If a nugget hunter/prospector makes a claim, that they'll never own a GPX-6000 and has not even seen or used one yet.  Just goes to show their lack of wanting to be better and or more successful or their limited budget, which I totally understand.  But don't suggest a 5000 with different coil will do just as good.

At this moment and until I can actually do many side by side comparisons on undug targets in the DIFFERENT AREAS, SOILS & GOLD FIELDS my 9 Field Staff members & I like to hunt, I really don't know what other reason (performance or lack of) why YET.  But I know MINELAB.

Here is why some of my Staff and I will be swinging a GPX-6000 as soon as we get them in our hands.  1)  Lighter weight PI gold detector than our SDC-2300 & GPZ-7000 (already proven 4.6 pounds 2) Better ergonomics than our SDC-2300 and GPZ-7000 (not proven but by looks, highly likely). 3) No wearing the stinking chest harness being tethered in, like my GPX-5000 and my GPZ-7000 (proven, we can see the pics). 4) Better at small gold than my SDC-2300, my GPX-5000 and GPZ-7000 (not proven, but Minelab new technology claims have never lied to me).  

Did I say it the GPX-6000 is deeper than the others at large gold?  No!!!  

But the point is, the majority of gold being found is small and so with the above confirms and their unproven but most likely true statements of gold sizes...it is a simple decision for my staff and I.

On a side note,  We have already updated my website www.gerrysdetectors.com to our 3 Day Field Training sessions for the 1st part of 2021 (the 2nd half is coming) and I imagine a few customers will want to take advantage of our knowledge.  Part of our class is to compare undug targets with the different detectors of the customers in that class, so we'll learn really quick, which models perform on different sizes of gold and at what depths.  If you are interested in the 3 days class, it's free to all customers who purchase a detector from me of $3000 or more.  There are some well known names on this site who have taken our class and they will vouch for my staff and I.  Heck some of you already know Lunk or at least have read his posts.  He is a wealth of information and always willing to talk detector knowledge.

Actually I want to say one more thing and this should be really easy for everyone to figure out.  Even if the GPX-6000 could not perform any better than my GPZ-7000, I'd still prefer the 6000 JUST BECAUSE OF THE ERGONOMICS & LIGHTER WEIGHT.  Any cost savings is a bonus.  Now I have to go ask the one who wears the pants in the house for permission.

Bottom line for the naysayers.  Let's allow it to get out in the field and after some time, we'll know how it stacks up.

Thanks for allowing me to get this off my chest.  If you feel my feelings are uncalled for just delete it and I am sorry Steve.

Cool as heck pic.  Both are tops.

3 hours ago, Hobo said:

What's a nuggy? 

It's a great feeling.

10 hours ago, geek4gold said:

What do you put that down to Gerry?

Detecting areas with bigger gold that has quite a bit of 1800's miners trash.  The Nox ID capabilities in the Prospect Mode is #1 of all VLF's that's good for gold.  Pics of a multi ounce chunk.

MinerJosh,  1st of all welcome to DP.  I can't give a Thumbs up as I ran out of them this morning, but you deserve one.

That is a fantastic 1st nugget of 2021 and I hope it is just the indicator of the remaining months to come.  If you mind me asking, what state is it from and your preferred weapon on this trip?

Thanks again for sharing/contributing and sure hope to see you on here more often my friend.

Part of being a detector dealer full time, it's hard to walk away from the shop, as it's usually not profitable.  But after Christmas, my sales sometimes slow down, so South I try to go.

As soon as I made plans, then everyone gets a $600 stimulus check and of course I missed out on a few sales.  Heck, I can't win a break.  Anyway, the trip was a go and the flight down was easy (other than wearing a mask the entire time).

Well it isn't a monster, but when you go to a site Lunk has detected, you usually get the Big-O.  I'm quite pleased with this little .6 gram gold for my 1st of 2021. 

Great weather (so much better than Idaho), fantastic friends/food and of course a few treasures were brought home.

What has been your 1st gold find from 2021.  Would enjoy seeing some shiny stuff in the sun while I'm back in the shop in Idaho.

I actually love those kind of finds more than a 1/4 oz nugget.  Nice history save and thanks for sharing.

Solid nuggets like that will give a higher digital reading on the Nox than the rough, small or specimen ones.  Very nice find and thanks for sharing.  The EQ-800 has found me more gold in the last 3 years than my GPZ-7000 and SDC-2300 combined.  Well done and hope to see/read more posts.

Heck I probably sold a 1000 GB-2's and still have customers wanting them.  That compact rake idea is nice.  How have you been able to do so far this year, I figured the ground is frozen and covered in white stuff.  GB-2 with a small 6" Ellip will go down in history...well deserved too.

On 1/21/2021 at 6:56 AM, Swegin said:

Well it looks like the Pre order has begun in the US.      https://forums.robsdetectors.com/topic/13333-minelab-gpx-6000-to-be-released-in-the-usa-pre-order-today/

I don't see anything when I click on the link, what did it say?

5 hours ago, Jonathan Porter said:

The key is none of us know what gold is actually still in the ground until ML bring something out that reveals the opportunity. The ground has secrets and ML have an uncanny ability at unlocking those secrets by developing new opportunities even when users are skeptical.

Well put.

On 1/17/2021 at 7:35 PM, jasong said:

Completely unrelated, but I looked at the website of one of those dealers posting the early GPX 6000 videos, and unless I'm mistaken, isn't that Gerry on their photo page, 5 down from the top, on the right? They just snag random pictures off the internet or Gerry do you have some Dubai connections? 🙂

Well there is a pic of me on their site and I didn't even get a free cooli for me beer.  My only connection to Dubai is that years ago before Minelab had their own distributors, I made some good sales to them.  Most are very smart and savvy businessmen.  Now Minelab has that under control so I don't get to drink wine with my rib eye.

Some great comments everyone and thanks for sharing your ideas.  Celeste Sandbank is the winner of the "Name that nugget" and she named it "Lady in the Golden Robe".  She wins a Minelab ProFind-35 Pointer.

That was the name Travis thinks matches his find most and I like it.

This is how I would answer your question in fishing terms.  If you want to fish for sunfish (Bluegill and Crappie), go to well known areas they are being caught and fish...then that is usually what you'll catch.  If you prefer to fish for 2 pound rainbow trout, do research and fish that area.  Chances are you'll catch some nice trout.  If you want to catch 5 pound brown trout, you need to go there.

In gold hunting areas.  All well known sites (such as Rye Patch, NV) the majority of detectable gold has already been found, but the tiny pickers are still there.  Even in 2021 I can find 20+ a day, but their sub grainers.  If I want to hit a 10 grammer, I'll pass up at Rye Patch and go to areas that have not been hunted as hard.  If I want 1+ oz'er, I prefer tailing piles in gold areas that had good size placer nuggets.  Research is the key to success of bigger gold.

At my stage of gold detecting career, I'll pass on 20/30 dinks = 1.5 to 2 grams just to find a couple bigger solid nuggets in the same day.  Now I have customers that are tickled pink with any gold no matter the size...and I am just as happy for them.

Hope this helps.

On 1/18/2021 at 8:09 PM, oneguy said:

Has anybody given up the weight on that puppy yet...?????

1.3 ozt

Glenn in CO - Your find is an amazing incredible piece as well.  Yes this one is thicker and longer than any I have seen.  Thanks for sharing your pic.

Phrunt - I've been a dealer of Minelab for 20+ yrs and giving 3 days Field Training classes on gold detectors with some of the best of the best on my Staff.  Our goal is to make sure the customers have the best knowledge of their detector as possible, hence the 3 days which gives time for the brain to actually remember a few things (repetition).  We also enjoy going in the field and using our detectors and love chasing Big Gold.  Finding dinks is fun and I have won many bets of who can find the most pieces.  But I would rather hunt days for nothing, just for the chance to find a Lunker.  Your collection is amazing for the short career you have had and nothing to spoof about.  After all, not all areas produce big gold.

Matt- Your find is the biggest I've seen other than this one...and it is a real treat to see.  Loved your story with it as well.  Thanks for sharing.

18 hours ago, Steve Herschbach said:

This stuff is not uncommon in Northern Nevada. I have a few, just not nearly that large. Though one is so folded that if I unfolded it it would triple in apparent size. Not a doubt in my mind it's naturally occurring gold, which has far more range in appearance than most people realize. In this case what we are looking at is commonly referred to as ribbon gold.

https://thegoldmuseum.com/index.php?main_page=page&id=3

https://www.pinterest.com/goldnuggetsales/rare-gold-nuggets-specimens/

Google Images

I have found a few folded over leaf type gold pieces myself in NV, but the biggest might be an inch long.  Here is one of my better folded type specimens from Oregon.

Those links show some amazing collectors pieces.  Thanks for sharing Steve.

6 hours ago, Jonathan Porter said:

That is an amazing piece of gold, I’ve seen similar looking stuff here in Australia from Georgetown up in North Queensland, but nothing as impressive as that, not by a long shot!!! One of a kind for sure and fantastic we got to share the experience thanks to having the camera rolling. I was amazed how bright and clean it came up just with a bit of water splashed around. 

JP

Thanks for the comments/wisdom JP as we don't find the kind of gold your folks are used to seeing over there.  Yes the color just came to life with a little water and the pics at the end were after a little soaking to get some of the caliche off.  So dark and rich.

My bad for not having my GoPro with me, so all we had was his cell phone and of course I had it turned the wrong way.  But it was caught and that is what counts.

6 hours ago, Joe D. said:

 If that is a natural, never before seen shape, collector's will pay a premium, i'm sure!!💰👍👍

He has already had offers in the $10K+ range, but I would expect him to hold out for 2X or 3X that.  Was informed by a buyer/seller of higher end gold pieces to do Auction with a Reserve.  

7 hours ago, Mike_Hillis said:

Very nice.

It has the pre-fabricated look to it, as if it was hand fashion into some banded item and then lost and the elements has their way with it.   Could be a historical find.  

HH
Mike

 

At 1st glance that is what I thought too, but realized there is no way a manmade object could get below the caliche line he broke through earlier in the dig.  After he watered it down and got closer look, I could tell it is all natural.

I've seen some crazy stuff come out of fields in England, but those are ploughed fields of 2000 yrs old.

8 hours ago, Steve Herschbach said:

That’s wild, almost looks more like a twisted up aluminum can than a nugget. I have no name, but congrats to the finder, and thanks for sharing Gerry! 👍🏼

It reminded me of those ancient gold bracelets they plow up in the fields of England.  My brother Travis was the lucky finder.  Well earned for him as I usually take the cake.

8 hours ago, IdahoPeg said:

Folds of Bliss? 

I like.

7 hours ago, vanursepaul said:

Black Gold!!!

 

Texas Tea and Strick beat me to it.

Gold is one of natures most interesting and inspiring metals on this earth.  I've been fortunate to see, handle and or even find my share of unique pieces but this one takes tops honors.

I know there are some legends of gold hunters on here and would ask your help.  If anyone has ever found one similar, please let us see.  As it stands now, this is a 1 of a kind and I was the lucky one who realized to grab a cell phone and put it on video mode....just in case we found a nice nugget.  But what was actually dug up just blew us away.

Oh my gosh is all I could manage to stutter from my lips.

Now we need to name this beauty and we'll all ears.  Please give some suggestions for a name.

Good video.  I immediately caught the 11" round DD coil and thought...this guy is missing plenty of gold, but your updated comments shows your knowledge of coils.  Also nice to allow a friend to get better odds at finding the elusive Au metal.

Your area in quite interesting and the gold is beautiful.

Thanks for sharing your end of year and hope to see more from you this 2021 season.