7/4/20 Report - Independence Day Greetings. Things That Can Not Be Burned.

Written by the TreasureGuide for the exclusive use of treasurebeachesreport.blogspot.com.

July 4th Postcard

Circa 1906.

---

Researchers at the University of Hong Kong have built a drone capable of seeking out gemstone deposits and fossils at night using a laser. The drone uses a scanning laser to react with fluorescents in the various objects that can later be detected in processing.

The researchers, Thomas G. Kaye and Michael Pittman, found during experiments that laser-stimulated fluorescence (LSF) would react and begin to glow under laser light. The drone detects the glowing objects in the ground by recording a video. 

To ensure it can detect even small fossils, minerals, organisms, and archaeological artifacts, the drone is flown 4 meters (13 feet) from the ground, enabling it to detect objects of interest as small as a thumbnail...

For more of that article about how to use drones to find fossils and gemstones, here is the link.

https://dronedj.com/2020/07/01/laser-equipped-drone-can-find-gemstones-and-fossils/

---

Troops at Bailey's Crossroads on Nov. 20, 1861
Source: See WashingtonPost.com link below.

Yesterday I couldn't help but be reminded of my friend Larry Persina, who passed away a few months ago.  His birthday was July 3, and his favorite holiday was always the fourth of July, but I also got word of the passing of another relative who was always part of our 4th of July family picnics as far back as the 1950s.  Those picknics were very much what you would expect for that time in history.  

Yesterday, receiving sad news and yet being filled with fond memories, ended for me around mid-night listening to the Battle Hymn of the Republic as it was being sung in front of Mount Rushmore.  I was filled with awe and grateful for the everlasting assurance of those who had departed.

The last verse of the Battle Hymn was originally written as follows:

In the beauty of the lilies Christ was born across the sea,
With a glory in his bosom that transfigures you and me:
As he died to make men holy, let us die to make men free,
While God is marching on.

The words are too challenging for some, and the second phrase of the third line is sometimes changed to read "let us live to make men free," or "let us fight to make men free."  But there are those who have died to make men free.

One interpretation of the hymn is that it is about the judgment of evil at the end of time. It is based on the Book of Isaiah and the Book of Revelation. The enemy is spiritual as well as physical.  The melding of Biblical imagery and the Civil War is truly amazing if you take the time to study each.

See https://literarydevices.net/the-battle-hymn-of-the-republic/

Written in Nov. of 1861 by Julia Ward Howe in the predawn hours after reviewing the troops at Bailey's crossroads the day before, the lyrics were written to the tune of John Brown's Body.

Howe's words show the keen intellect and penetrating sensibilities of an accomplished author and poet who was fluent in several languages, and who fought for causes including the abolition of slavery and women's rights.  Analysis of both the lyrics and the author's accomplished, complex and troubled life would be fruitful endeavor for any honest student.

On June 8, 1968, as the 21-car funeral train bearing the body of assassinated U.S. Sen. Robert F. Kennedy from New York to Washington crept through Baltimore, a lone mourner in the crowd began slowly singing, Mine eyes have seen the glory . . .

Others in the throng of stricken bystanders picked up the lyrics and the melody singing

Glory, glory, hallelujah..

For more information about Julia Howe see https://www.washingtonpost.com/local/how-julia-ward-howe-wrote-battle-hymn-of-the-republic--despite-her-husband/2011/11/15/gIQAnQRaYN_story.html or any of a variety of excellent references.

Many old hymns have amazing inspiring stories behind them.

For me a day that started with sad news ended with many memories and a deep sense of contentment.

---

Here is a really good web site that provides access to a broad range of resources for historical research.  For example, for the Civil War you will find the contemporary Harper's Weekly issues describing the progress of the war, but other periods of history are included.

http://www.sonofthesouth.net/

---

Tropical storm number 5 is heading out to sea and away from us.


Wishing you a deep and happy fourth of July.
TreasureGuide@comcast.net

4/23/20 Report - Beaches to Open. Prettiest Find In A While. Civil War Forks. Gold To Go Way Up. Automat.

Written by the TreasureGuide for the exclusive use of treasurebeachesreport.blogspot.com.

Loose Stone Found Yesterday.

Yesterday I found the loose stone shown above on the pavement.  All I saw at first was a bright sparkling in the sunlight.  I bent down to check It out and saw the small faceted stone.  It is the prettiest thing I've found for a while.

Back years ago I talked about eye-balling, and how to find lose gems.  I remember talking about the fellow that did quite well scouring the New York Diamond Center streets.

One good place to look for loose gems in in the frozen food departments at grocery stores.  It seems that the cold might make loose stones fall out.

Another good place is in the ladies section of department stores.  You can often find earring backings caught in the carpets around the racks and counters, especially in the corners under the ledges of the counters.

I took pride in my eye-balling skills in the old days, and did it constantly.  It kept me entertained when I went shopping with the wife.

In this blog I remember saying, more than once, "Keep looking down."

I'll have to get this one checked out.  It isn't large, but I think I can see a small inclusion, which is good.

Same Stone on Dime.

---


Gaylen C. did some research on my knife and found several similar examples, usually listed as Civil War era, which matches the date range I was seeing in my brief research.

Three-Pronged Wood-Handle Civil War Era Forks

Submitted by Galen C.

Here is what Gaylen said.

There were quite a few offerings, some inlaid more or less than yours, but no exact match. Hope it helps in your research. Most described as civil war items.

I for one would miss this blog tremendously if it were gone. Don't think I've missed a day since I discovered it. Even tried, unsuccessfully, to make my way back to the first post to read them all. Hope you will be sharing your insights in one format or another for a long time to come. \

Submitted by Gaylen C.

Thanks Gaylen.

---

I understand that Sarasota Beach is open.

Vero Beach is not open but Conn Boardwalk along the beach is open for oneway traffic.

I'm expecting other Treasure Coast beaches to open next week.

Here is what was reported in CBS news yesterday.

… St. Lucie County Communications Director Erick Gill tells CBS12 News the Treasure Coast counties are working together, eyeing limited beach reopenings similar to Jacksonville’s, but hoping to avoid the initial mad dash.

“We don’t want to be the first one to open up and then see the entire Treasure Coast congregate on 21 miles of beaches,” he said... 

… On Wednesday, the topic was front and center as Gov. Ron DeSantis convened four conference call meetings of his Re-Open Florida Task Force.

“Quite frankly, after the first night, it’s really thinned out,” said Jacksonville Mayor Lenny Curry, who shared with a Task Force working group how he reopened his city’s beaches this past weekend.

The beaches are only open for limited hours during the morning and evening for swimming and recreation — no sunbathing or gatherings yet.

The video and pictures of people turning out in droves the first day of the reopening raised concerns among many, but Mayor Curry said he believes people have kept their distance and it’s working...

For more of that article see

https://cbs12.com/news/local/sharper-focus-on-reopening-beaches-parks-eventually-restaurant-dining


---

Bank of America says gold will reach $3000 per ounce in the next 18 months.

https://www.bloomberg.com/news/videos/2020-04-22/bank-of-america-says-gold-will-hit-3-000-an-ounce-video

That is more than $1200 over the present price.

Gold prices have been very volatile, often moving $20 to $40 a day.

---

EMarketer says that while the pandemic is creating a major drag on the global economy, it's helping to accelerate the development and commercialization of emerging technologies that previously received only lukewarm support from the public or government. In an April report, the research company highlighted such technologies as drone delivery, worker robots, 5G connectivity and telemedicine.

"This is especially true for innovations that reduce human-to-human contact, automate processes and increase productivity amid social distancing," said the report.

Simplehuman seeks to make everyday life more efficient, according to Yang, creating touchless products for both the home and public spaces. Yang says the company has seen a surge in interest in items such as a touch-free, foam-sensor soap pump and a paper-towel holder that pulls the right amount with just one hand.


If you give the people a problem and a chance, they'll figure it out. That is how fortunes are made.

It actually reminds me of the automat that I saw in New York in 1964, I think. It was a bit of a tourist attraction back then.

It was a cafeteria like place where the food items were in boxes around the walls, and you just put in your coin and opened the door to get your item.

---

Intolerance is a shackle restraining the intolerant.


NFL draft today.  Don't forget to tweet Boooo Goodell.

I think our beaches will open next week.

Happy hunting,
Treasureguide@comcast.net

11/11/19 Report - History Between the Pages of Old Books. Memorable Metal Detecting Experiences.

Written by the TreasureGuide for the exclusive use of treasurebeachesreport.blogspot.com.

I decided to pull out an old book that I hadn't read, and I'm glad I did.  The book is George Gable's The Grandissimes, originally published in 1880, I had an 1899 copy.  Gable writes historical novels, or what I might call dramatized history of old New Orleans.   His books give you a better idea of what life was like than a history book would.  He fleshes out actual historical people and events with realistic interactions and dialogue that is authentic to the times and period.  It presents a complex detailed picture of society and racial relations as they were.  In my opinion, the George Gable books are much better than "history" books in more ways than one.

Anyway, I found the obituary of Captain Benjamin Saxon clipped from the Dec. 11, 1901 Times-Democrat newspaper.  Captain Benjamin Saxon Story was a prominent citizen of New Orleans who passed in 1901, and the obituary mentions actual places and people mentioned in the book.  

There is much more to the clipping than what I am showed above.  The obituary talks about Captain Story's experience in the Civil War and his feelings of the defeat of the Confederacy.  It also mentions his acquaintance with Bulwer Lytton, a very prolific author of many books which I have. 

Treasure hunting is to me a broader subject than metal detecting.  Metal detecting is one kind of treasure hunting.  

Valuable books are treasures too.  Not only can old and rare books be valuable, but old books can conceal other treasures.  I've found money, old photos, and a business card of a famous person between the pages of an old book.   And  the information in a book can be a valuable treasure too.

---

This morning I was thinking about my most memorable metal detecting finds.  Two that first came to mind were valuable finds.  They were both diamond rings.  One had the largest and finest solitary diamond that I ever found, and one had the largest total diamond weight.  

You would think that the most memorable finds would be the most valuable, but while thinking about it, I discovered there are a lot of other factors involved besides the value of the find.  Some of the finds that stick out in my memory are not the most valuable.  In fact I think those diamond rings are so memorable to me because of more than their value.

The first, my largest and finest solitaire diamond, was found on a particularly beautiful day.  The sky was deep blue and the water was bath-water calm.  I distinctly remember when that scoop of sand was lifted from the bottom, I could see the diamond sparkling while it was still under a few feet of water.  At that point I didn't know that it was a valuable diamond ring at all, but I remembered the sensory experience of that beautiful day and the diamond sparkling in the scoop under the water.

The other diamond ring that I remember so well, involved an experience too.  It was a day when I had very little time to hunt.  In fact before I went hunting, I had a hard time deciding if I would go because I had so little time.  I figured that by the time I got to the site I wouldn't have more than a half hour of time to actually hunt.  Despite how little time I had, I finally decided to go.  When I got there I stepped into the water, not much above my ankles, and bingo - I hit the ring in just a few minutes.  It turned out I didn't need much time, but something told me to go, and I was glad I did.

I also well remember finds that were not valuable at all.  For example, my first piece of Treasure Coast shipwreck silver.  I remember that find detail for detail.  I dug it up, my wife took it out of my scoop, looked at it, and started to throw it away.  I told her to keep it.  It was a black sliver of silver.  I didn't really know for sure it was silver until I got it home and tested it.  It isn't worth much of anything but it was a first for me, and it was a long time coming.  

Surprisingly, unlike the experiences I just described, I had to think a while to remember exactly where I found my first escudo.  For some reason, I don't remember that one so well.  I do remember that it was on my birthday weekend and I also found a gold US coin the same weekend.  Maybe that made the escudo less memorable to me as a unique experience because what I remember is finding two totally different kinds of gold coins in the same birthday weekend, but I don't really remember the details of finding those two coins very well.

It seems that I do not so much remember the details of individual finds on days when there were many finds.  On days when I dig a lot of good stuff, that is what I tend to remember - the quantity of finds. 

When I think over my memorable finds, there are several factors that make them stick out.  Value is only one.

I tend to remember first finds, especially when they are something that I have sought for a while.  I had been trying to find shipwreck silver for a quite a while when I finally found my first.  I think that made it more memorable.  Also the experience of not knowing for sure immediately and having to go through the process of testing before getting the final answer made it more memorable.  And also sharing the experience and telling the story made it more memorable.

Many of my most memorable finds involved interactions with other people - for example, sharing the experience with my wife.  In some cases, it was returning the item to a grateful person.  And telling the story never hurts.  I'm sure that sharing the experience and sharing the story makes the find much more memorable.  

I remember, for example, the day when I arrived at one site after leaving another with a pocketful of quarters and encountering a fellow that asked if I could spare any change.  I gave him a couple dollars worth of blackened quarters, and he told me, "God helps those who help others."   I stepped into the water and, bingo, I found a diamond ring in just a few sweeps.  A few sweeps more and I found another diamond ring.  What I remember most about that is what the fellow said to me and then what happened and the very coincidental nature of the whole thing.  

It isn't all about the value of the find.  It is very much about the experience and sharing with others, and also the meaning it has to you.

---

Source: MagicSeaWeed.com

We're supposed to have another increase in the surf for Wednesday and Thursday and then another one next weekend.  

Like I've been saying, this is the time of year when we often have cold fronts coming through.   November is often a decent hunting month.  Hopefully we'll get something that moves enough renourishment sand to improve conditions.  There is a lot of sand in front of the beaches and covering the dunes.

Remember the veterans today.

Happy hunting,

TreasureGuide@comcast.net

7/9/19 Report - Secret Colonial Era Code Found on Jewel. Shipwreck Graveyard. Fossil ID Needed. Sedwick Auction of 1715 Fleet Cobs.

Written by the TreasureGuide for the exclusive use of treasurebeachesreport.blogspot.com.

Source: MSN.com link below.

A century ago, dozens of shipyards across the United States constructed a fleet of wooden steamships to aid the fight against Germany during World War I. Today, ospreys nest on the boats, and bats breed in the hull. More than 100 of these historic vessels survive, serving as a half-submerged home for fish, beavers, waterfowl, and vegetation along a stretch of the Potomac River next to Mallows Bay, Maryland.

On Monday, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration designated the 18-square-mile area a national marine sanctuary—the first in nearly two decades. The Mallows Bay-Potomac National Marine Sanctuary holds not only remains of the “ghost fleet” of WWI vessels, but also Civil War-era shipwrecks, and Native American archaeological sites dating back 12,000 years...

Here is the link for more about that.

https://www.msn.com/en-us/travel/tripideas/ghost-fleet-of-sunken-warships-declared-a-national-marine-sanctuary/ar-AAE2kAr?ocid=spartandhp

Drones are providing some nice images.

---

Gaylen C. sent the following email and photo below.

The story of the young lady finding a big sharks tooth in an unusual place reminded me of one I also found in an unexpected spot. The tooth pictured was found in a brand new load of oyster shell that my father had ordered for his driveway. Just west of Lakeland! I have had this thing almost 30 years now. Maybe you or one of your followers is knowledgeable in shark tooth identification and could name the former owner, It's really big, but not the dark look of megalodon  at all. Those serrations are still pretty sharp. That load of oyster shell could have come from anywhere, including the phosphate mines all along Hwy 60. That shark had nothing to do with the missing finger, but that's not what I tell my grandchildren. LOL 

Also found what I believe is a gator tooth in some freshly mulched plant bed as I left a restaurant after lunch. Would a gator tooth be hollow? 

Loved the Declaration post.

Tooth Found by Gaylen C.

Photo by Gaylen C.

What do you think?

And here is the other one.

Again, what do you think?

You can find things in strange places.

I'll have more on this after I give you a chance to give your thoughts.

---

A clump of dirt initially dismissed as nothing more than a pebble has turned out to be one of the most significant 18th century artifacts ever found in North Carolina, archaeologists say.

“No bigger than a pea,” the clump was washed to reveal a pressed glass jewel, etched with a Colonial-era code: “Wilkes and Liberty 45.”

Archaeologist Charles Ewen told McClatchy those words were infamously seditious in the 1760s, and indicate the excavated tavern in Brunswick Town was likely a den of rebellious Americans.

“That was a rallying cry for those in opposition of King George III,” says Ewen, director of Phelps Archaeology Laboratory and professor at East Carolina University in Greenville...

Read more here: https://www.charlotteobserver.com/news/local/article232283702.html#storylink=cpy

You'll want to read more about that.  Here is the link.

https://www.charlotteobserver.com/news/local/article232283702.html


Don't pass up something just because it looks like a clump of dirt.

---

From Sedwick Auctions -

Now is not too early to consign to our Treasure, World, U.S. Coin & Paper money Floor Auction #26. Like last time, we have secured the DoubleTree Suites by Hilton Orlando - Disney Springs in Orlando, FL, and we have locked in the date: Oct 31- Nov. 2, 2019 (with lot viewing & Guest Speakers on Thursday, October 31 and Live Floor Auction on November 1-2, 2019). Please let us know now if you plan to attend, so that we can make a preliminary head count and expand the room-block reservation if necessary.

This will be the most important auction of the year, with exceptional exposure both from the LIVE FLOOR AND INTERNET BIDDING SIMULTANEOUSLY.

We recommend not waiting until the last week to consign to give you priority to your material. Please consult with us about your consignments now. Also, there is plenty of time to meet to discuss your consignment in person. You will be able to see us at two upcoming shows this summer: FUN (Florida United Numismatists) Summer Show in Orlando, FL July 11-13 (booth #730), and ANA World's Fair of Money in Rosemont, IL August 13-17 (booth #1429) As new members of the Professional Numismatist Guild, we're also setting up at the PNG Day event on Aug. 12. Will also be offering much new inventory at these shows!  We will travel to you for qualified consignments.

We are honored to announce the much anticipated Collection of John Pullin Mexican Silver and Gold Cobs, most of which come from the 1715 Fleet, featuring several finest and unique pieces with very sought-after pedigrees. A lot of collectors have been waiting for this opportunity and we know there will much spirited bidding in person. 

Mr. Pullin, a well-known numismatist and long time collector, will be part of our educational talks the day prior to the sale, giving participants a chance to meet the man behind one of the most interesting collections of Mexican cobs put together over the last two decades with a focus on 1715 Fleet pieces.

We look forward to hearing from you, with thanks in advance.

Daniel Frank Sedwick, LLC
P.O. Box 1964 | Winter Park, FL 32790
consign@sedwickcoins.com | Phone: 407.975.3325 / Fax: 407.975.3327 / Whatsapp: 407.975.3325

---

Happy hunting,
TreasureGuide@comcast.net

5/27/19 Report - Memorial Day 2019. Burial Flags. Facts. Treasuring.

Written by the TreasureGuide for the exclusive use of treasurebeachesreport.blogspot.com.

The VA Service and Distribution Center (SDC) supplies burial flags to VA facilities and U.S. Post Offices (USPS) throughout the country and around the world.  The flags are then issued directly to funeral directors and families of deceased Veterans.  Burial flags are provided free of charge to the next of kin of honorably discharged Veterans.  Additional information on burial flags and burial benefits is available at the NCA Home Page.

Here is the link to the National Cemetery Administration.  Among other things, it tells you how you can get burial flags, such as the one above, and gravesite markers for veterans.

https://www.cem.va.gov/burial_benefits/burial_flags.asp

---

According to a recent poll many people think that Memorial Day marks the beginning of summer. Others think it is the same as veterans day. 

Did you know that the first observances of what we now refer to as 'Memorial Day' were intended to honor those who died in battle during the Civil War. Claiming more lives than any other conflict in U.S. history, the Civil War required the establishment of the nation's first national cemeteries, according to History.com.

Here is a link that will take you to a site that tells many more interesting facts about Memorial Day.

https://www.msn.com/en-us/lifestyle/did-you-know/13-memorial-day-facts-you-didnt-learn-in-school/ss-AAB5KlB?ocid=spartandhp

---

I picked up this painted stone a couple days ago when I was taking a walk.  It is obviously nothing special, but it made me think a little.

Painted Stone Recently Found.

I know it was probably painted just a few days or maybe weeks ago - maybe at Easter time, but I wondered what if I didn't pick it up and it was found by someone a hundred years from now?  Would it be valued as a historic artifact if it was found in the year 2119.  I don't think so, but maybe.  How about five hundred years or a thousand years in the future?  Then it might be thought of as something to study,  Would our current age and culture then seem like a lost mystery and something of interest to study?  I really don't know, but I suspect it might.

Even now there are questions.  Was it done by a child?  Was it nothing more than an art project, or was it meant to have another purpose or significance?  

One natural response would be to say, it's a painted stone, and that would be the end of it. But it might have meant a little something more to the person who made it.

It could have had a personal significance, such as these memory stones that I found online.

So, I'll be putting it back.

I once found something similar in the ocean, except it was ornate and made of metal and had an inscription to the deceased.

I'll never know exactly what the painted stone is about, but for some reason I encountered it, in the same way I encounter so many objects along the way.
  
We talk a lot about treasure, but "treasure" can be either a noun or a verb.  As a noun it refers to a concentration of wealth.  As a verb it suggests the act of cherishing.

Different people hunt for different kinds of things.  Some people want to find what ever they can sell for the highest price.  They tend to treasure what is valued highly by others.  Other people like objects that might not be the highest priced, but lead them on a journey or tell a story.

Is there an art to treasuring?  Do some people do it more or better than others?  I suspect so. 

If you study an object, you might learn to appreciate the object more.  You might connect the object to other people or history or yourself in a more meaningful way.  

You can add value to an object by studying it.  The history and provenance can make it more valuable.

An otherwise ordinary object can be turned into a treasure, if you treasure it.

For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.  I suspect it works the other way too.  Where you heart is, there will your treasure be also.

Treasure those that are with you today, and treasure the memories of those who are not.

Thanks to those who fought and died for us.

TreasureGuide@comcast.net

5/9/19 Report - Finds, New Mystery Item and Newly Solved Mysteries. Small Surf Increase Coming.

Written by the TreasureGuide for the exclusive use of treasurebeachesreport.blogspot.com.

Beaded Leather(?) Bag

This bag is about five inches high and has slots for a draw string.  It seems to be made of some type of skin.  I'd guess leather, but I don't know that.  The beaded ends on the bottom are just a touch larger than a silver dollar.

Other End of Same Bag.

Many of the beads on this side have come off.

Same Bag Opened Up.

Notice the slots at the top that could be used for a draw string.

Here is a crude drawing of the shape of the bag with dimensions.

---

The bag appears to be old.  You can see that the material has deteriorated.  It cleaned up very well.

I've never seen one of the same shape, and wonder what it was meant to carry.

Anyone have any ideas on it at all?

---

Wind Chime.

Source: Pinterest

Sent by Mitch K.

Concerning the item that looks like a compass rosette, Joe D. had this to say:  Trina O's item looks rusty, like tin or iron! Not corroded like copper or brass! The only iron of any kind in a real compass would be the needle! Also, with the hole in the top, it looks like a decorative hanger of some type that blew off its string or wire!  Good thinking Joe.

Mitch King sent a picture ( right) of such a decorative item on a wind chime.  That photo really nails it down for me.  

It is an ornament for a wind chime.  See the photo to the right that Mitch sent.

Thanks Joe and Mitch!



I also got some answers for the small copper items that looked like they exploded.

Mitch said they are copper bullet jackets.

Joe D. said,  The exploded items may be full, or partial metal jacket rounds with the lead or other interior metal composite melted out, so the typical mushrooming the would make it more recognizable as a bullet is missing! Those would be copper or copper alloy! And if casings, would be thin hollow brass! But they look more like bullets to me! 

Later, Joe said they could be tracer rounds, which would have a hole end the trailing end.

RinkRat said they are fired black powder primers. they go on a nipple that sticks out of the rear of the barrel. These replaced the pan of earlier black powder guns.

Good work guys!   

I also found percussion caps and a percussion hammer, and another item.  I'll show a picture of that one in a second.

As a result of those replies I got out a copy of my Dixie Gunworks Black Powder Guns, Shooting Supplies and Antique Gun Parts Catalog.  I once picked up the catalog in a thrift store for a dollar.  It has been very useful, as it was today.

Source : Dixie Gun Works Catalog.

I also had a nipple cap or cover and didn't know it.  It is the little copper cap sitting on top of the cylinder right in front of the hammer.  I didn't know what it was but never paid much attention to it outside of  wondering what it might be.  So not only did you help me with the item I posted, but you also helped me identify a find that I didn't post.

I'll have to put all these items together in one place now.   Thanks for your information and what I just learned.

Joe D. also said,  With the addition of the picture of the back of John E's item, i think it may be part of a larger decorative item! It looks like copper with a copper wire soldered on the back! If its an earring, its missing the attachment for the ear! Maybe home made item! 

Thanks again guys.  I'm still very unsettled on this one.

Joe also said he enjoyed the brain teasers.

One other thing I found while looking through the Dixie Gun Works catalog is shown below.  I have one but didn't know about it either.  I thought the curved knife was for cutting rugs or something.

Source: Dixie Gun Works Catalog.

If I run across either the nipple cap or knife I'll post photos.  I know I saw both of them recently.  I saw the nipple cap just a few days ago.  Maybe I've already posted one or both of them, but I don't remember for sure.

---

I forgot to add some more tips for scooping up hard to recover items.  I'll probably get back to that in the near future.

Still planning to show a large find of modern gold bullion coins when I can.

---

Source: MagicSeaWeed.com

As you can see the peak surf has slipped back a half day or day.

Happy hunting,
TreasureGuide@comcast.net