Hello there! Firstly, I would like to take a second to thank you for taking an interest in sharing our hobby with us. The following area of this page is used to tell a little bit about the three (currently) of us, so if you are not interested in who...or whom, I can never decide which...then skip on to our Finds or maybe help us out by trying to identify some of the neat things we have dug up. Now, on to the introductions.

My name is Chris Horn; I have lived here in Southwest Missouri almost my entire life. I have gone to the same school from Kindergarten to Graduate. I work primarily in construction of different sorts, either building or excavation. I am currently 29 years old and have been metal detecting for about 1 year or less as of writing this. I have owned my detector for about three years. However, after receiving it and finding nothing but some trash after about 10 min. in my front yard, I put it in the closet (no, I did not read the manual). I became re-interested in metal detecting when someone asked me to find something they lost after learning I had a detector. I did manage to find their item, but I had to be in all metal and it took forever. However, it did re-kindle my interest in detecting. With some internet access and a users manual I learned enough in one night of studying to begin my search for the elusive coin. After my first coin (a 1990s dime), I was hooked. My primary interest seems to be in coin hunting and jewelry so far, but I love to find a few neat relics besides. I am currently looking into being certified to scuba-dive; in hopes that I will be able do some underwater detecting. I also play guitar, banjo and bass. I love blue grass and gospel music.

The next most senior detectorist is Mitch Jones, also having lived in MO most of his life (we went to school together, but became friends later), and also 29 years old. A few months after I got into detecting he was able to locate a detector and off we went.  The only knowledge either of us had was what I had learned from a few trips to the playground and my front yard. Mitch generally works as a mechanic but is a general all around fix-it, break-it, and "find something new to buy" kind of guy. He is the guy that normally does most of the talking when it comes down to it, because he is one of those people that you can't help but to like. Although we only credit this sight to the three of us, I should take a second here to mention that when Mitch and I go out we normally have his daughter Kali along with us. She digs targets and carries stuff around the site for us. Mitch says when he buys his new detector that she will get his old one, so look out guys. Mitch's other hobbies include mud trucks and pets; he just bought a new monkey which we will try to get a picture of just as quick as we have time.

The newest member of the group is Adam Ainley; Adam is 15 years old and has also lived here his entire life. Adam and I became friends when I took over teaching a class at our church, then when I found out that he had a metal detector we instantly found a new bond. Adam, as fate would have it, had the same problem I had with his detector. After he got it home he spent a while out in the yard and found a big fat nothing and then returned it to his closet where it sat for a year or so. When we discovered the mutual interest and started talking targets I offered to take him out and show him some things. Since then there has been no stopping him. Adam is the person who takes care of this sight and e-mails, and updates. Although he is the newest and youngest member of our group he has skunked me more than once in our hunts. Adam's other interests include sports, collecting baseball cards, fishing and any other outdoor activity.

As you can see we are quite diverse, which is good because nothing is ever boring. Adam and myself are very active in church and try to exhibit such behavior while we are out and about (yes Mitch behaves too). We all live in the small town of Buffalo, MO which is about 30 min. North of Springfield, MO. The area is quite rich in history from Indians to Spanish explorers, to the Civil war. The area is just like you would think of the Ozarks, rolling hills, big rocks, lots of grass and trees and plenty of wildlife. This is a great place for relic hunting, but being as it was fairly poor area years ago, coin hunting is just ok. Although there is some nice stuff, it isn't nearly as old as what you would find in say, New York.

Well, now that we are past all the introductions, we'll get to the technical stuff.

I use a Tesoro Toltec II, I have the original 8" coil but also own an 18" clean sweep. The machine is a wonderful machine and I have nothing but praise for it. I will definantly buy another Tesoro.

Mitch also has a Tesoro Toltec II and a Garrett GTA200, also a good machine, but we do have a bit of a problem with no depth gauge and no "pin-point" mode.

Adam owns a Bounty Hunter Pioneer 202, which seems to work as well as any other detector, except on nickels.

Between the three machines, we generally can get a pretty good idea of what we are digging before we put tool to dirt.

If you have any other questions or comments, please feel free to e-mail us.

Chris Horn, Mitch Jones, Adam Ainley