Army Camp Relics

[mn90403]

Yesterday we took a 3+ hour trip to go detecting at a WWII Army Camp.  It is the well-known Camp Essex/Camp Clipper.  We got there just before dawn so that we could watch some meteors in the dark sky.  We saw a few and then it was time to hunt.  The temperature at sunrise was about freezing.  We geared up for a walk and let the kids stay inside the car when I heard a quad approaching.  I met a fella who said he had been detecting the camp for over 40 years.  He gave me a couple of suggestions on where to hunt and he was on his way.

I was on my way staying to my plan.  After a walk about and getting some success, we went to another location based upon his recommendations.  We had a little bit more success there and then drove around for a bit, getting dusty and then returned in the late afternoon for some additional success and to watch the sunset.

We don't know much about the ID of the items other than the coins.  One penny is a 1941-D, one is 1938-S, a 1937 dime and an unreadable steel penny.

The buttons are unknown to me but are just general issue?  There is one additional button I can't identify.

The prize is perhaps the US lapel pin which has a screw backing rather than a stick pin.

The most unusual would be the clip with 2, 4 round unspent cartridges.  Are they of collector value as is or should they be cleaned up?

It is 'hard' to include detected only items in the collections.  Sometimes you see a cool item before you detect it.  Sometimes you see a sunbaker after you detect it.  It all ends up in the pouch.

I now know a lot more about detecting on nail beds and bottle tops.  Will the new detectors really help?  More on that later.

[JCR]

That's a lot of interesting targets. Your ammo clip looks to be an embloc 8 round for the M1 Garand. 30-06 caliber.

[GaryC/Oregon Coast]

I'd be careful with the live rounds.  Some clubs won't even let you put them on a finds table.  Not supposed to mail em either.   Maybe you can find a collector local for face to face transfer.  GaryC/Oregon Coast

[mn90403]

I've found some live beach rounds before and I was told to call the police.  They came and took them from me rather than me go to the station.  If you take them to a station, they call the bomb squad.

[F350Platinum]

One campground I visited was very grateful I dug about 5 rounds of Remington 35 from a hole about 2 feet from a fire pit. 😀 💥 Campers move fire pits all the time. That's some big stuff.

What a great place to hunt, looks like nobody's been there. 👍

[Calarms]

If ammunition gets noticeably wet or is exposed to enough humidity that moisture enters the primer, then it can be deactivated. It takes a good amount of moisture and humidity to do so, and it usually happens in the case of repeat exposure — but it is certainly possible.

If this does happen, the primer will be deactivated as well as the propellant charge, which makes the ammunition completely useless. A tell-tale sign of any propellant charge or primer deactivation is to find rust or discoloration on the primer or the rim of the ammunition case. When you see discoloration or rust, you can be confident that the ammunition has lost its function and is unusable. That ammo in your photo is really corroded, most likely it's deactivated from water exposure, but to be on the safe side pick up  a surplus metal  ammo box,  for storage when you transport.

[Valens Legacy]

That is some history you dug, looks like you had fun during your outing and got plenty of exercise.

Good luck on your next outing and stay safe.

[CPT_GhostLight]

What a great hunt and excellent assortment of WWII era finds! Those buttons are WWII era Army issue and were usually found on jacket sleeves and shoulder tabs. The brass US insignia was mounted on the jacket lapel with a coin-shaped brass screw back. Congrats again on all the cool finds and a silver dime to boot, well done!

 

[Doc Bach]

13 hours ago, Calarms said:

If ammunition gets noticeably wet or is exposed to enough humidity that moisture enters the primer, then it can be deactivated. It takes a good amount of moisture and humidity to do so, and it usually happens in the case of repeat exposure — but it is certainly possible.

If this does happen, the primer will be deactivated as well as the propellant charge, which makes the ammunition completely useless. A tell-tale sign of any propellant charge or primer deactivation is to find rust or discoloration on the primer or the rim of the ammunition case. When you see discoloration or rust, you can be confident that the ammunition has lost its function and is unusable. That ammo in your photo is really corroded, most likely it's deactivated from water exposure, but to be on the safe side pick up  a surplus metal  ammo box,  for storage when you transport.

I found this little beaut a few years ago out in the middle of BFE where it had no earthly business being.I decided that it would be better to leave it where It behind rather than to pack it out a half a mile over rough terrain and kayak the four miles back to my truck with it.Do you have any thoughts or advice about retrieving it and keeping around? 

[Doc Bach]

1 hour ago, Doc Bach said:

 

Sorry about doubling up on the photos this is my 1st attempt at this