[Tony Curnick]

@ Walker....yes I find the same casings flattened at the end and folded over (three on Sunday),Buttons from three nations (American,Brittish,Boer and a Cos Token coin from Germany)....quite a bit of jewellery made from brass and silver,lipstick in a brass tube so I guess there were some woman around or one woman who made the rounds!!.....harmonica reeds are as prolific as pullrings at the local park.....at least 30 different components from pocket watches ie.gears,counter wieghts,covers,centre plates outer casings......I also find the strangest objects to be used as targets ie. pendants ,badges  lamps....tons of buckles and horse and caridge related components....strop less razors and bullet heads

[Tony Curnick]

What's your theory on the closed casings??......In my humble opinion the area I'm detecting in was first and foremost part of the gold rush which brought ex army soldiers from England,Germany,Canada and South Africa to the area in search of work and a good time....with them came the prostitutes and traders and I think that the areas where you find the most finds are places where they gathered to party the night away!!...After the drinks stopped flowing the pissing war would start and they would throw caution and reason to the wind and take bets as to who could shoot a ladies broach through the centre at 100 feet!!!,And then they all woke up with hangovers and realised that they had lost all their sh*t the night before and swore never to get that drunk ever again!!!

[James Kraft]

What's your theory on the closed casings??......

Guys, we found similar bent closed casings in Middelburg. We opened some up and found it still contained "Cordite Bars" inside. We suspect that the soldiers used the cordite to make fire but closed the remaining off for reuse to prevent it from getting wet. Just a thought........

[Tony Curnick]

Plausable theory James..may well be the case!

[Wilhelm Ludik]

with them came the prostitutes and traders and I think that the areas where you find the most finds are places where they gathered to party the night away!!...After the drinks stopped flowing the pissing war would start and they would throw caution and reason to the wind and take bets as to who could shoot a ladies broach through the centre at 100 feet!!!,And then they all woke up with hangovers and realised that they had lost all their sh*t the night before and swore never to get that drunk ever again!!!
[/quote]

Exactly my thoughts. I found a 1917 duiwelspennie drilled with a .303. Took me a month to find both pieces.

The closed casings were used as indicated by JK, but near the diggings they used the casings to secure the diamonds they found. You would have been very foolish to walk around with two or three precious stones in your shirt pocket. Thus the Martini Henry casing were bent over or plugged to keep your little fortune where you can feel it and know it is secure.

Found a handful of them neatly plugged but unfortunately empty - yet you never know.

[Peter Callahan]

One day is one day..lol

[Wilhelm Ludik]

One day is one day..lol

I'll probably faint.

[Tony Curnick]

I'm cutting my folded cartridges open as we speak!!!!....I think we give the old pioneers way to much noble credit!!...at the end of the day they were after the same thing as we are.....Woman,wine,windfalls and promising signals....We would also be shooting the crap out of things if we hadn't discovered metal detectors!!!

[Wilhelm Ludik]

I'm cutting my folded cartridges open as we speak!!!!....I think we give the old pioneers way to much noble credit!!...at the end of the day they were after the same thing as we are.....Woman,wine,windfalls and promising signals....We would also be shooting the crap out of things if we hadn't discovered metal detectors!!!

LOL - That's why I consider metal detecting to be therapy.

[Kobus]

Thats greate finds there Walker.
Kobus

[Barney]

From now on I will treat a folded cartridge like a fortune cookie...

[Tom White]

Keep it coming W@lker

[Wilhelm Ludik]

Last two hunts on the farm.

•   .303 Casings, found my first Kimberley casing dated 1943
•   Three solid shank flat buttons
•   Martini Henry casing – diamonds removed
•   Assorted buckles and adjusters
•   Climax padlock – seems to have been made circa 1920
•   Sash adjuster
•   1918 Duiwelspennie
•   1953 UK Halfpenny
•   1889 halfpenny
•   Candlestick holder
And one very old sorry looking Teapot

[Wilhelm Ludik]

Climax padlock

[Wilhelm Ludik]

Candle holder