Be careful when digging a target

Over many years of metal detecting, I have dug some very interesting targets. Really, it is like opening a present and you never know what is going to be inside this present. Sometimes it is a surprise and other times it is a let down. Every now and then a target can be a real danger though.

Use extreme care when digging a target. It could be a coin that is worth a fortune especially without a huge scratch on it from your digging tool. What I want to warn about though is dangerous items and there are many of them.

It does not matter if you are around an old homesite or in a park use care when digging. Just the other day I dug a target near an old homesite and it showed to be a coin and ended up being a single edge rusty razor blade. It had a thick aluminum edge on on side. One wrong move digging this and I could have had a good cut and a tetanus shot to boot probably.

Some items I have encountered over the years:

• Vaccination needles and syringes - modern plastic ones and the big metal ones for livestock.

• Broken glass especially inside old ball and mason jar lids.

• Glass also encountered when digging a target below it.

• Rusty pins, needles, nails, wire, guitar strings, piano strings.

• LIVE ammo - old rimfire, 22, 30-06, etc...

• Open pocket knives and hunting knives

• Sharp metal objects and tin, pull off tops from canned foods such as sardines (especially sharp)

I do not want to discourage anyone from digging and having fun with your detector. As long as you use caution and common sense, you can pretty much stay out of danger's way.

:B