A Mystery Solved

[Nugget Shooter 4,614]

OK all, so I bet most of you have dug little bits of wires that almost look to screws, but have no head on them. They give a great signal and I have found them in most goldfields I have hunted over the years. So what are they? well I got this email and photo from a friend in Australia yesterday after showing on in my video.. I would have never guessed, but there they are!

Hello Bill,

despite knowing that it's not that important, I am sending You a photo
of part of a leather boot upper with those wire bits still attached.I
found it  on diggings.In my childhood days remember watching a cobbler
using wood splinters for the same purpose while waiting for a repair.It
was in Prague  and he called those bits of wood - flocks originating
from German word for it.(early 1950)He would use dozens in a single
sole.That is why there is so many of them scattered around.

Itching to go bush detecting ,or panning, but we are in lock down
,regards George

[nugget108 1,736]

Thanks Bill!!

[TomH 2,836]

I was out with Bob G. up by rich hill and found a bunch of them. Thats what he told me also, German.

Tom H.

 

[Gilaoro 318]

Thanks Bill, I have also found them and often wondered .

[LipCa 357]

With 30 years of detecting in extreme northern California, I have never dug one of those. Watch, I'll dig one tomorrow.......

[pairadiceau 185]

Bill,

Great story, it is nice to learn something daily, even about a headless screw in a shew.

Thanks for sharing it.

 

[adam 3,127]

I have founds so many of those, always figured they were a broken screw ......Good stuff Bill......

[NvAuMiner 393]

Thanks Bill !! That is a mystery solved. . .  I have found a couple of them and always wondered what they were.