The Best Finds of 2024

2024 was a really good metal detecting season. I moved more soil than a large family of groundhogs could manage and brought home half a shedfull of scrap metal. Between all the rusted scrap were a few gems, prehaps fewer than previous season but several dream-come-through finds. My absolute all time favorite find was the small Lappland shield grouping I dug out from a radio bunker turned into a trash pit.

First up the five rings.

From the bottom of a burn pit came this viking ship ring.

A silver ring with monogram "E.T"

The most interesting ring I have found.

I love these Finnish rings.

It is always gold to find silver..

Two beltbuckles worth saving.

Three times through the summer I was very surprised to find a gun as I have never found any before.

The Baby Walther.

I have not cleaned this one yet so am not sure what it is yet, possibly a Radom or a Colt.

The Nagant revolver laid in the middle of a burn pit and is ready for electrolysis.

Aerial sight for Mg 42.

I found two mess kits with names engraved, both missing their lids.

Schuhmann

Mesum

A couple of cloth items had survived time.

A gefreiter chevron.

Two shoulderboards from a Gebirgsjäger artillerie unit.

Some badges and medals.

An interesting elephant badge.

A Petsamo-Rovaniemi travel badge.

These three were found in the same patch of forest one summer morning.

Denazified KVK.

An EKM pouch used as portemonnaie.

Half EKM.

Nameplate for a personal crate.

Handmade luggage tag.

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  The best helmet this season

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And last the best find of them all, the Lapplandshield grouping and stamping block negative.