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Shadow X5 Finds by Greg Toney of South Carolina
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CS7a - W.Dowler/Superior Quality - Confederate Staff Officer's Button - found, of course, w/the X5. |
A few weeks ago, a friend of mine invited me down to hunt a new
tract of land he had gotten permission on near Columbia, SC. Upon arriving
at the site we scouted the area out as to where likely spots would be...my
friend John headed off one direction, and I told him I was headed up
to the top of "that hill". If there was anything here, I told
him, that's where it's going to be. So I started the long walk up. As
I neared the crest of the hill, I started to pick up a small amount
of iron and then a nice solid hit...it was the brass frame to an old
coin purse. Hey maybe there are some old coins around. So, I slowed
down my search and started listening for that smooth repeatable tone.
Two feet away, there it was...the sound I was looking for...you know
the tone the X5 makes I describe more of a boing than a beep. One good
shovel of dirt had the target out of the hole. Instead of a coin, though,
I was holding in my hand a Confederate Staff Officer's button with a
W.Dowler/Superior Quality backmark, a rare one indeed! I got on the
radio and told him I thought he needed to come on up the hill. So far,
between the two of us we've pulled 5 script I's, one Coutney & Tennent
Roman lined I, 2 South Carolina's, 3 Eagle buttons and the CS staff,
among many other great Confederate camp items. The X5 has made it a
joy to hunt!
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Script I, blank back, Confederate Infantry (I don't know what the other thing is).
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Pattern 1855 Rifleman's belt slide.
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Heel plates and toe taps found in CS camp alongside CS staff, and script "I".
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Confederate Rifle Artillery shell fuse...cool!
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The two items in the picture that Pete posted were a nice brass
sword guard an equally nice tin-back I, Confederate Infantry button.
Of course a VERY bad picture of me in the field holding the I button
fresh out of the ground. Pete's descriptions are actually better, haha!
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BEST DAY EVER! |
Again, I want to thank Bill Duggin (Horsesoldier) for his hospitality and a great hunt Wednesday.
I joined Bill on a few of his sites around Beaufort. We didn't go in with a lot of expectations so as not to get dissappointed. It turned out however, to be my best button day in 4 years of relic hunting. The Shadow was HOT! Here's the scoop. Oh yeah, let's get the silver out of the way...dug this 1855 seated dime...man, this site was hard on silver...
Next we'll get the common flat buttons out of the way. I ended the day with 6, but one turned out to be a little different from the rest...more on that later...
Next a couple of Yankee cuffs...a general service eagle and a nice dark chocolate brown NY.
I dug another Yankee button as well, but it was of a much less common variety...here's a before cleaning picture...can you tell what it is?
And after some careful cleaning...
If you've got your Albert's handy, it's an FD1, one-piece Revenue Cutter Service button. The RCS became the RCS in 1862 and eventually would become known as the Coast Guard. A super period button! With a great backmark...*U.States*Revenue Service*
I asked Bill if any state buttons had been dug in here, and he said, "one, a South Carolina". I'd take a South Carolina! And I did!
We kept joking around because this site was a "known" Yankee camp, but I guess it's also now a "known" Confederate camp too, as about 30 minutes after the SC I dug this!
Confederate Cavalry, Roman C on lined field. Chatwin & Sons * Birmingham bkmk.
The big surprise of the day came when I got home and started doing some cleaning. I always clean my flat buttons "just in case". We'll it paid off. Something caught my eye on one of them...it was the outline of an anchor...and as I turned it in the light I could see a very worn NA10 ca. 1802 Navy button appear! This is about as good as I could get with the picture. The details are much more clear in-person...Clean those flat buttons!
Total button count on the day...11. 5 flats and 6 military.
It was a great day! Sure beat laying in the sun getting sandy! Thanks Bill! Greg - Saturday, 31 July 2004
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Shadow sniffed out a good one yesterday!
EG4, 1-piece Engineer's button...I think it's got a Van Wart bkmk. Greg Dec 5, 2005 |
