I switched from using nautilus metal detectors to the wilson relic & coin 4 metal detector in 1992. It was the best move that i had ever made ! I never thought that Mr. Wilson could make a better detector than the r & c 4, but he did so with the Northstar.

This machine operates much like the old models having only 2 control knobs, sensitivity and a descrimination. This is truley a turn on and go machine. the depth of the northstar is great. I have returned to some "hunted out" civil war camps and home sites and have dug many relics including a north carolina military institute button that was at least 13 inches in the ground. The machine will pick out good readings from trash with no problem. I have had cut nails come up from the same hole that i have dug civil war bullets out of and never even get a reading on the nails but the signal for the bullet was loud and clear. You can however cut the discrimination back if you want to dig cannon ball fragments or what have you. the few drawbacks are : from what Mr. Wilson tells me you have to use energizer batteries as they are longer and other batteries cause false readings. The machine is a little heavy compared to some newer models, however compared to my old nautilus it is light as a feather. I have heard of other diggers returning there machines to the factory several times for problems but they had the first production of the noerthstars and mine , according to the serial number, in from the 3rd production and i have not had to return it at all.

At times I am tempted to get a computerized detector with all of the bells and whistles, but evertime I dig a deep bullet, I resist. I am thinking about getting a shadow x2 as i have heard great things about it and I am looking forward to giving it a try. Never will i give up my wilson, however at times it would be nice to have a lighter machine to take with us camping plus my 6 year old daughter wants to go with me digging now so it will be great for her.

There are many great detectors on the market and what ever one you choose just take your time and learn it inside and out and the results will come. good luck !! hp.

The Wilson North Star metal detector (Manufactured by Paul Wilson in South Bend Indiana) is an excellent detector with some possible fatal flaws. It goes deep, almost as deeply as a Fisher CZ5 or 1266. It seperates targets extremely well, picking out a coin from between the two "arms" of a pair of pliers with no problem. It balances well, even though it is a fairly heavy and bulky unit. Pinpointing is no problem using the "crossing" method (as it has no pinpoint mode.).

Mr Wilson has told me over the phone that the unit must use Everready 9 Volt batteries (3) as they are longer than other brands of batteries. This is true, as I had trouble with my Northstar cutting off intermittingly using other brands of batteries. Changing batteries is no problem, certainly much less hassle than the old Wilson units. such as the R&C and R&C2. A few years ago here in central Virginia, the Wilson and the Nautilus detectors reigned supreme with relic hunters.

The Northstar, however, has the following flaws. The plastic connector between the body and the head is pure"Mickey Mouse" It causes false signal problems, as well as "on-off" problems. I had to send my North Star back to Mr. Wilson 6 times because of faulty head to body plugs. Why he can't use a screw-in metal plug like other companies do, is beyond me. Several times the unit was returned to me exactly like I sent it-unfixed. Wilson Electronics is a rather small business, as I understand, and support is limited. Mr Wilson personally handles most of the phone calls. He does seem eager to help with problems, at least over the phone. The battery length problem and the head connector made me decide to sell my North Star- that and the fact that even after it was finally "fixed" by Mr. Wilson himself, it still would "go wild" with false signals at times. These signals would generally stop if you turned the detector off and then on again.