Whenever a new metal detector comes onto the scene that seems to be of interest, I try to arrange an opportunity to try it out. If it is better - or can do different things from the machines I have been using - I will buy it. Getting to find your way around a new machine can prove something of a challenge and at the time (June) any small fields that did become available to search did not stay that way for long. However, I knew that the detector had a good pedigree although I am not sure who thinks up the names for detectors, and some have had some pretty strange names in the past. This new ‘Laser’ has the rather unusual name of the “Hawkeye”. But I have never had much interest in the name of detectors or indeed their cosmetic appearance (provided they are light, well-built, and comfortable to use). My only concern is how a machine will perform in field conditions.

Control-wise, the Hawkeye seems to have returned to the way that detectors used to be, having been equipped with only essential controls. It also has a nice large display, which I found easy to read at a distance (without having to put my reading glasses on!).

Even before I took the “Hawkeye” out onto the fields I was impressed by the battery check system, that tells you exactly how much life is left. This may seem a trifling concern, but if your batteries are not up to scratch then performance will go down and targets will be lost. The box is of the Tesoro/Laser small MicroMax style, with the batteries being housed in a box at the top of the armrest (helping to balance the machine nicely).

The “Hawkeye” is a very light detector and comes fitted with a 9in x 8in web-type coil as standard.

As with earlier models in the range, the headphone jackplug is still under the control box whereas I would have preferred to see it in the armrest battery box area. This is a minor point, though, and just results from the fact I do not like leads hanging near the controls. The problem was soon rectified with the aid of a right-angled jackplug lead that I had purchased some time ago. On the plus side, however, situating the jackplug socket under the control box does have advantages, for on rainy days water cannot travel down through the jackplug socket and into the electronics. I should stress at this point that I only use good quality headphones, and recommend that all readers do the same. It is no good paying for a top-of-the-range detector, and then being let down by cheap headphones that break down in the field or that are incapable of producing a full range of sounds.

The only land available to try my new machine was an out of the way stubble field. I felt this would yield little and would mean I could not properly put the machine through its paces. I was also a bit concerned about the overhead power cables passing over one part of the field. However, as stated, I had nowhere else to search. Initially, I set the “Hawkeye” up to the basic settings shown in its instruction book. I felt that it would be sensible to try the manufacturer’s settings first and then, depending how well or not they worked on this site, “tweak” them to my own preferences.

I have buried various objects (both junk and of the “wanted” type) in my garden at known locations, and over the years these have had time to properly settle in. It therefore makes a basic but very good test site. Before taking the “Hawkeye” out in the field I had tried it on these targets, and its response had been perfect for those it had rejected and those it had accepted. As a precaution, I still felt that for the first hour or so it would be wise to dig up all the targets signalled, so that I could then continue in confidence knowing that the read-out would be correct. While conducting this exercise I made a mental note of how the detector reacted to iron. I found that small pieces were ignored while large pieces gave a response but were identified on the screen. The only time the detector gave a positive then negative response was on an iron buckle. This was pleasing, for there is a saying in this hobby “When in doubt, dig it out” and I was at least presented with that option. The only average-sized ferrous objects that can cause confusion are iron washers, which have a known tendency to be seen by most detectors as a non-ferrous target. But even then, the presence of one of these can be seen on the Hawkeye’s screen for the numbers tend to be unstable and jump about.

Before setting out, I had also carried out some experiments with small pieces of lead. This may seem strange but I know that some detectors are preset to ignore this metal (within reason), and our ancestors made numerous items of lead, especially during the medieval period. The read out on small pieces of lead was low, sometimes barely reaching double figures. Small hammered coins, together with cut halves and quarters also fall into this level of read out, so having a large display screen proved a blessing.

My first natural target proved to come from an 18th century bayonet frog. It was not a large item as part of it had been broken off, but even so the signal came through nice and clear and the detector’s pinpointing was spot on. There is little more frustrating than digging a large hole for a small item, especially when the ground is hard as it was on this occasion. These frogs are normally associated with military activity and having found some on a Georgian military site I had searched some time ago, I hoped that such might prove the case here.

The next target did support my hope, although its response was not so high on the scale as the copper alloy frog. My find was, in fact, a very small military button that had started to flake away. These are difficult targets and I have used a number of detectors in the past that have rejected them or at best given an “iffy” signal. 

Various sized buttons of the 5th Dragoon Guards

I was encouraged by this find, but two targets do not prove the identity of a site or, indeed, how a detector is performing. My third find gave a good response both in terms of audio and on the meter. As stated, the ground of this field was hard but a signal like this was worth digging and I could only hope that it not be just a lump of scrap. I was glad that I had decided to bring and use my field spade, for if I only had my conventional hand trowel the best part of the day would have disappeared on just this one find. Getting through the first few inches of soil was difficult as it consisted of a combination of hard soil and stone. After digging 5in, 6in, 8in and then 10in down I decided to widen the hole to avoid the risk of damage to my find. This proved to be a wise move for the target eventually revealed itself at 12in depth and proved to be a large dagger chape of 16th century date. This was the item that eventually gave me full confidence in the detector, for if it can locate such items at such a depth and with a good read out then it certainly has my vote. I know that some detectorists are of the opinion that depth is not everything, for what you miss one year you may well find the next, but on the other hand you may not be able to search the same field the following year as a result of a change of ownership or some other unforeseen reason.

Musket and pistol balls

The “Hawkeye” is an easy-to-operate detector and I soon gained familiarity with its controls. It soon seemed that I had been using the detector for months rather than just a few hours. It would be wrong to state that none of the various items I eventually recovered from this field would not have been found had I not been using the “Hawkeye”, but I do believe that a great many of them would still remain undiscovered. Whenever I search a new field I try to keep all the items together (although bagged separately) over the course of a season. This will often provide a picture of past activity, and indicate the period that such activity occurred. After several searches my initial suspicion was confirmed that the field had been used by the military in the late 18th and early 19th century when Britain was under the threat of a French invasion. The military buttons included regiments from various parts of Britain, together with militia and local volunteers. Although I knew they had been stationed in this part of my county, locating any trace of them has always been difficult for the camps and troops themselves were often moved, and the officers normally billeted in private homes or inns. Quite a selection of buttons eventually came to light, and I have shown some of them with individual groups and captions where relevant.

As an experiment just before leaving this site I turned the control down to “all metal” and decided to use the detector in this mode just to see how much iron and ferrous fragments were present. Within a few minutes I was back on discrimination again, with my ears still ringing from all the signals. However, this can be a very simple way of determining how much activity a site has seen in the past; nails etc are man-made and are actually alien to what should be in the soil. During my first search of this field I recovered a total of 80 non-ferrous finds. About three-quarters of these were in a recognisable condition, being in the main buttons and copper coins. At a time later in the year, and with crops and ploughing permitting, I intend to extend my search area from this obvious campsite. If nothing else, there would have been occasions when the men would have been allowed to leave the camp for a visit to the local inn. Prior to going out I had checked the condition of the batteries, and I did the same on my return home. The read out showed that very little battery life had been used.

After only three outings with the “Hawkeye” I knew with reasonable certainty by listening to the audio whether a target was one that I should dig or leave and walk on; and if I were unsure the meter would soon show me. The “Hawkeye” is one of those detectors that would suit a beginner to the hobby, but also be appreciated by the old hands. However, don’t underestimate this machine: it may have less controls and be easier to use than others, but if you buy one be prepared for a lot of digging and an increase in your finds rate.

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