Western Frontier Relic Road Trip With TomCA

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 or it's been suggested that perhaps it's a Knights Templar insignia (?).


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 eight period buttons, and possibly nine with a potential large Phoenix button dug that's in a coin or button cookie soaking 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 post his finds too.

2021 isn't over yet!!

GL&HH,
Cal

Hunting can be frustrating in the brush/bush but every nice find makes it less. Well done Cal!! Sweet finds!

what a terrific hunt! thank you for sharing! the unidentified part is possibly a trigger and bolt spring from a black powder revolver. (just a guess)

Jeff

I wonder what detector found all that stuff hmmmm?

Great finds!

Your octagon shaped doodad has an Oriental air to it the way it is cut out.

Chris

ozzie Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Hunting can be frustrating in the brush/bush but e
> very nice find makes it less. Well done Cal!! Swee
> t finds!

Thanks and exactly why we need closed loop elliptical coils, they don't get all snagged up in the brush

Jeff (or) Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> what a terrific hunt! thank you for sharing! the u
> nidentified part is possibly a trigger and bolt sp
> ring from a black powder revolver. (just a guess)
>
> Jeff

Thanks Jeff, I'll see if I can find anything similar online.

JCR Wrote:
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> Your octagon shaped doodad has an Oriental air to it the way it is cut out.

I could see that, I wonder what its intended purpose was. Probably dangled off something/someone.

NICE digs, Cal! That Phoenix button is BEAUTIFUL!

Steve

Just think what else you could have found with the Goldtrax/ Great finds and I love Phoenix Buttons.

Nice finds Brian. The Number 2 cuff button was assigned to the "Kings Regiment". The number 28 coat button was assigned to the "trou Regiment".
Did I miss Tom's finds? How is the family?

El



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 12/29/2021 06:30PM by Elbert.

Elbert Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Nice finds Brian. The Number 2 cuff button was ass
> igned to the "Kings Regiment". The number 28 coat
> button was assigned to the "thou Regiment".
> Did I miss Tom's finds? How is the family?
>
> El


El, Good to hear from you ! Happy New Years.

I had a "wardrobe malfunction" that day When attempting to telescope the rod of my Explorer II further out, I accidentally broke off the dog-ears of the my pro coil

So I had to hike the 20 min. back out, 10 min . drive to our hotel room to get my spare machine (Deus ). Then hike back in, blah blah. I lost 1 to 1.5 hrs.

I ended up with 4 period buttons: Underwear button, flat plain button, flower-design button, and cufflink bird-cage button. No coins or notable buttons. Brian kicked my B#tt on this hunt But .... ssshhhh, don't tell Brian.

steveg Wrote:
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> NICE digs, Cal! That Phoenix button is BEAUTIFUL!
>
> Steve

Thanks Steve, I thought so too. It hasn't even been washed off. We're starting to notice that the finds either come out in beautiful condition, sans iron, they look like the day they were lost OR they come out with this fused sand type of soil adhered to the surface. Really odd, and no rhyme or reason as clean finds could be right next to the cocooned finds.

texkinzee Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Just think what else you could have found with the Goldtrax/ Great finds and I love Phoenix Buttons.

The Baron would probably do well there

Elbert Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Nice finds Brian. The Number 2 cuff button was ass
> igned to the "Kings Regiment". The number 28 coat
> button was assigned to the "trou Regiment".
> Did I miss Tom's finds? How is the family?
>
> El

Hey El,

Thanks, took me a while to find a Kings OR Queens Regiment button, and then I get three of them back to back. Funny how that works sometimes. I finally got a Canon and Mortar large coat button last year, Phoenix ball buttons have been allusive for me though haha

Families good thanks, how's everything on your end?

HH,
Cal



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 12/29/2021 06:52PM by Cal_cobra.

Tom_in_CA Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------

> El, Good to hear from you ! Happy New Years.
>
> I had a "wardrobe malfunction" that day When
> attempting to telescope the rod of my Explorer II
> further out, I accidentally broke off the dog-ears
> of the my pro coil
>
> So I had to hike the 20 min. back out, 10 min . dr
> ive to our hotel room to get my spare machine (Deu
> s ). Then hike back in, blah blah. I lost 1 to
> 1.5 hrs.
>
> I ended up with 4 period buttons: Underwear butto
> n, flat plain button, flower-design button, and cu
> fflink bird-cage button. No coins or notable but
> tons. Brian kicked my B#tt on this hunt But
> .... ssshhhh, don't tell Brian.

LOL---Sounds like you got some quick and double time exercise in Tom.

Elbert Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Tom_in_CA Wrote:
> --------------------------------------------------
> -----
>
> > El, Good to hear from you ! Happy New Years.
> >
> > I had a "wardrobe malfunction" that day Wh
> en
> > attempting to telescope the rod of my Explorer I
> I
> > further out, I accidentally broke off the dog-ea
> rs
> > of the my pro coil
> >
> > So I had to hike the 20 min. back out, 10 min .
> dr
> > ive to our hotel room to get my spare machine (D
> eu
> > s ). Then hike back in, blah blah. I lost 1 t
> o
> > 1.5 hrs.
> >
> > I ended up with 4 period buttons: Underwear but
> to
> > n, flat plain button, flower-design button, and
> cu
> > fflink bird-cage button. No coins or notable b
> ut
> > tons. Brian kicked my B#tt on this hunt B
> ut
> > .... ssshhhh, don't tell Brian.
>
> LOL---Sounds like you got some quick and double time exercise in Tom.

I think Tom's trying to get something over on us eh?

Cal_cobra Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> texkinzee Wrote:
> --------------------------------------------------
> -----
> > Just think what else you could have found with t
> he Goldtrax/ Great finds and I love Phoenix Button
> s.
>
> The Baron would probably do well there

After the Holiday I will send you my Goldtrax. I have to many detectors and it sits in the closet. At 70 yrs. It is tough to swing now. I know you will put it to good use.

Great posts and beautiful pics--great way to start the day !!

texkinzee Wrote:
> After the Holiday I will send you my Goldtrax. I h
> ave to many detectors and it sits in the closet. A
> t 70 yrs. It is tough to swing now. I know you wil
> l put it to good use.

Oh to be 70 and able to roam the mountains, plowed fields and saltwater beaches again. Twelve years takes a toll on the body.

wow the equinox really did well for you!

texkinzee Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Cal_cobra Wrote:
> --------------------------------------------------
> -----
> > texkinzee Wrote:
> > ------------------------------------------------
> --
> > -----
> > > Just think what else you could have found with
> t
> > he Goldtrax/ Great finds and I love Phoenix Butt
> on
> > s.
> >
> > The Baron would probably do well there
>
> After the Holiday I will send you my Goldtrax. I h
> ave to many detectors and it sits in the closet. A
> t 70 yrs. It is tough to swing now. I know you wil
> l put it to good use.

I know you're just kidding around, but I've always thought this detector would easily best the F75, especially in any kind of mineralized ground or decomposed iron. I bet it loves buttons and silver too!

Elbert Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> texkinzee Wrote:
> > After the Holiday I will send you my Goldtrax. I
> h
> > ave to many detectors and it sits in the closet.
> A
> > t 70 yrs. It is tough to swing now. I know you w
> il
> > l put it to good use.
>
> Oh to be 70 and able to roam the mountains, plowed
> fields and saltwater beaches again. Twelve years t
> akes a toll on the body.

Ah but you're legendary around these parts sir

doc holiday Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Great posts and beautiful pics--great way to start the day !!

Thanks Doc, hope you're getting out, Merry Christmas and almost New Years

I cannot believe how fast 2021 flew by now that it's almost be hind us

Very nice!