How To Find Unknown Metal

It's ane of those things about metallic detecting. You discover something. It looks one-time. It looks unusual. Information technology looks rare. It looks like it may definitely be valuable, or a keeper for your collection. But one problem – you have absolutely no thought what it is.

The process of identification of whatsoever object, known or unknown, can be broken down into a series of partial identifications. Let's take a money, for instance. Though this might have all of 7 seconds, the identification of an piece of cake object might include these steps:

1) You expect at the coin and – based on the size and the fact that information technology is probably copper – rapidly deduce that it is a penny.
2) Y'all look at the penny and see the familiar face of Lincoln on it. Y'all now know information technology is a Lincoln Cent, minted between 1909 and electric current mean solar day.
3) Yous flip the penny over and see wheat stalks on the back. You now know the penny was minted betwixt 1909 and 1958.
4) You check the date and grade the penny to endeavor to give it as detailed and precise identification every bit possible

The identification process is simply moving the object through a series of fractional identifications using clues. With each new partial identification, the true identity of the object becomes clearer.

Some objects may never exist precisely identified. You lot simply promise to get an adequate identification that you tin can live with or establishes a articulate value if you are interested in capitalizing on the notice. In general, for example, the older an object is with no date markings, the more than likely the object tin can only be assigned a probable date range at all-time. The older the object is, in most instances the wider that date range may exist.

Now let'due south go through the process to place a completely unknown item. I assisted a forum member with an identification of a very cool find recently, then I am going to use that as an instance.

Gear up the Item for Identification
Before you begin identification, make sure the item has been carefully cleaned as thoroughly and carefully as possible (dirt, build-upward, rust removed) so that any and all available markings, details and other clues are apparent. Here is our target object. It is by and large cleaned, but non so much as to impairment the object:

identifyitem1

Photo the Items
If yous are trying to place an object for someone else via the internet, you need clear photos of both sides equally well as major angles and with close-ups of any markings or important details. If you are getting help from forum members, y'all should provide the same. Here are two additional photos provided:

What do you lot know about the item?
Working with the object's owner, we adamant several important clues:
– The object had been plant in a field where many objects from the 1700'due south had been found
– U.s., Colonial State on East Coast, at about 8 inches
– The object is likely made from brass or bronze
– We know the object's size (shown in comparison to the quarter).
– The object conspicuously looks to have been office of a larger object. Something conspicuously fits into the top and bottom.

None of these clues seem very helpful by themselves, but each clue tin can assistance the item fit into or reject it from, certain possible identifications.

What are the markings on the particular?
Our item had no markings. Markings such every bit messages, symbols, manufacturer names, hallmarks, countries and dates are a tremendous help in the identification process. Make sure the object is make clean and use a magnifying glass to brand sure yous notation every available marking.

Does the item clearly fit an obvious nomenclature?
Our object did not, but make notation if information technology does. This will be persistent parts of the search terms on the internet. Some examples are: The object is a push button. The object is a money. The object is a bullet. The object is a buckle.

What do you doubtable near the item?
We also had certain clues that helped united states, only things we were not confident about, similar:
– It appears to have loops for a persons fingers to fit in. These loops are broken.
– The partial protrusions higher up the loops may be part of a manus guard
– It has figures on it that look Roman or Greek (because of the columns mostly) only nosotros're non sure. There are also banners to a higher place the figures. The item has a "French Empire" look to it as a result.

Does the item appear to be military? If so whatsoever clues as to country or armed forces branch?
Armed forces items are widely collected, then designating the item as such and suspecting boosted details can help. Our detail did not seem military to u.s..

Does the blueprint of the particular suggest additional clues?
Is it "artsy" looking like jewelry or decor? Or is information technology functional looking like hardware, tool or weapon?

Based on the initial clues, What does the object look similar information technology might be?
A polling of forum members was decidedly in favor of a dagger handle or office of a letter opener.
I played devil's advocate and offered these possibilities: Office of a fancy mantel clock finial, candlestick holder, desk-bound lighter, and part of a trophy.
Someone insisted information technology was the hilt of a ceremonial Viking dagger.

Keep an open mind.
Often, an unusual object looks so much like something information technology is not, information technology impedes the identification every bit its actual identity is not fifty-fifty considered. A lot of times nosotros will be convinced that the object is "some blazon of _____?" and inadvertently get the id off track.

Consult your retentivity and personal knowledge
Often times an object looks familiar but you just can't place it. If this is the case, spend some time thinking and flashing through your personal history in your listen to try and become clues like "I saw something like that at a flea market place 1 fourth dimension" or "I saw 1 like that when I was putting together a contend gate."

Consider mundane and not valuable things.
Often the particular was non lost, it was discarded, forgot nearly, or thrown away. Our desire for the object to be something really absurd or valuable often gets in the mode of the bodily identification.

Importance of Understanding Object'south Size
If you do not take the object in forepart of you, make sure you empathise its width, length and height prior to attempting to id. I've seen some pretty hilarious identifications where the object turned out to be manner too small or large to fit the offered identification. If you are relying on photos or providing photos and no clear measurements are provided, the photos should include a mutual item, usually a coin, to clearly illustrate the size.

Build a list of search terms

Using the listing of known and suspected clues, build some search terms for eBay and Google. Some of ours were these:
– Contumely Letter Opener
– Brass Dagger
– 18th century Brass
– 19th century Contumely

…..and and so on. Nosotros also made a note to try "Bronze" instead of Brass. You may have to try many combinations of 2-iv clues to get on track. Ever employ your articulate object classification in your search terms (ie Button). We didn't have any.

Next: IDENTIFYING YOUR UNKNOWN FINDS – PART Ii