Western Frontier Relic Road Trip With Tomca

[Cal_Cobra]

Got out with TomCA yesterday for some relic hunting at some early western frontier sites.  I ended up going sasquach through super heavy brush in search of the goods and it didn't disappoint!  It may have been an all time record for me for buttons, not only in quantity but I also ended up digging some rarities!  Although not the best find of the trip, I dug a super old 1600's-1700's SILVER decorative button!  I've seen these found at Colonial cellar hole sites on the east coast and over seas, but never seen one dug out here.  I absolutely LOVE IT!! 

This heavy cast suspender buckle was a fun find as well.  No idea what the back story is on it, but it appears to have an iron cross (?) on it. 

 

 

The prize of the trip is this No. 28 large Phoenix button, and it turns out that of the 94 various types of Phoenix buttons this particular one is one of the rarest!  Tom recently did a research project to ascertain the rarity of the 94 different types of Phoenix buttons, I've linked his excellent article here: Phoenix Button Rarity

 

 

All told I ended up digging at least eight period buttons, and possibly another large Phoenix button dug that's in a coin or button cookie soaking in WD40 to loosen up the crud.

I dug this octagon shaped "dodad" depicting a person kneeling, possibly holding a rifle.  No idea what it is, it's 3cm wide.

 

 

Here's the period scrapies, green blacksmith'd copper bits, the obligatory rim-fire, etc.  Any idea what the item on the far left is?  I'm thinking perhaps part of a Chinese lock or something? I added another photo showing another view of it. Tom thinks it's a gun part, I still think it's some kind of Chinese lock or something similar.

I haven't cleaned anything yet really, was thinking it would be fun to order a set of Andre's cleaning pencils to restore some of these items and see how they work. 

Hopefully TomCA will chime in with his finds. 

2021 isn't over yet!!

GL&HH,
Cal

 

[abenson]

Wow nice finds. Sounds like you guys had a good time.

[Valens Legacy]

Great finds in beautiful condition.

Good luck on your next outing.

[CPT_GhostLight]

Wow, incredible finds! Well done!

[strick]

Nice work Brian you and Tom are like two well seasoned coon hounds....always able to sniff out the good stuff...Glad you got out...I've been holed up with work and projects..

strick 

[Againstmywill]

7 hours ago, Cal_Cobra said:

This heavy cast suspender buckle was a fun find as well.  No idea what the back story is on it, but it appears to have an iron cross (?) on it. 

Could it be that proof of the Knights Templars was uncovered by expert metal detectorsist Cal_Cobra while detecting an ancient site where more happened than appears, or is it part of something bigger... something only more exploration will uncover?

[Againstmywill]

Interesting read about the possible origins of the Phoenix buttons on the west coast:

https://mynorthwest.com/1976707/mysterious-phoenix-button-found-puget-sound/amp/

 

[UT Dave]

Very cool!  And paint me jealous - snow and frozen ground here.

If that is a gun part, and I've no real idea if it is or not, but if it is, I'd guess firing pin.  Based on the small protrusion at the end of the long skinny part.  The other, large end, would be unlike any firing pin I'm familiar with though.

- Dave

[F350Platinum]

Incredible finds, great photos. 👍 The condition y'all find things in! 🤯 Hope to see what Tom found.

[GB_Amateur]

Gotta agree -- that silver button is something special in terms of attractiveness.  I confirm what F350 said -- the condition of your finds is remarkable.  I guess it's the dry climate.

When you can stop counting in decades, replaced with centuries, you know you're in relic detecting Shangri La, at least for North America.