Description
Fisher F19 Metal Detector: 19 kHz Precision for Iron-Heavy Relic Ground
Old homesites and battlefields have one thing in common: the good targets hide under a blanket of nails and iron trash, and most entry detectors just sing one confused note over all of it. The Fisher F19 was built for exactly that ground. Its 19 kHz operating frequency is hot enough to hit small brass, buttons, and even small gold that lower-frequency machines walk over, and its iron handling is the real story.
Why the F19
Most detectors near this price give you a handful of preset modes and hope for the best. The F19 gives you the controls that matter in bad ground: an expanded 40-point iron ID range that separates big iron from small nails instead of lumping them together, FeTone adjustable iron audio that lets you turn ferrous targets down without silencing them, and V-Break variable tone breakpoint so you decide where low tone ends and good-target tone begins. Ground Grab computerized ground balance handles the mineralization that relic sites are famous for. Big-box dealer pages describe these features; in the field they mean you dig fewer nails and hear the button next to the nail. That 19 kHz frequency also makes the F19 a legitimate crossover into gold country, sensitive to small nuggets that 7 to 13 kHz coin machines miss.
Choose your coil: the 10 in (25 cm) DD elliptical closed coil is the do-everything standard and slips through brush and tight spots; the 11 in (28 cm) DD adds coverage and depth for open fields and pasture. Both are waterproof for creek edges and rainy permissions (the control housing is not submersible).
Specifications
| Spec | Fisher F19 |
|---|---|
| Operating frequency | 19 kHz VLF |
| Iron discrimination | Expanded 40-point iron ID range |
| Iron audio | FeTone adjustable iron volume |
| Tone control | V-Break variable tone breakpoint |
| Ground balance | Ground Grab computerized |
| Notch | Fine-tune adjustable notch width |
| Target ID | 2-digit numeric with pinpoint mode |
| Display | Adjustable backlight for low light |
| Search coil | 10 in (25 cm) DD or 11 in (28 cm) DD, waterproof |
| Built | Made in the USA, Fisher Research Labs |
What's included
- Fisher F19 control unit and shaft assembly
- Waterproof DD search coil (10 in / 25 cm, or 11 in / 28 cm per variant)
- Fisher factory warranty (First Texas Products)
History Seekers is an authorized Fisher dealer. We run detectors on real permissions before we recommend them, and the person who answers the phone at (256) 284-2247 has dirt time. If you are torn between the F19 and a multi-frequency machine, call us and tell us about your ground. The story is more important than the artifact.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the Fisher F19 good for gold prospecting?
Yes, within its class. The 19 kHz frequency is sensitive to small gold nuggets, and Fisher markets the F19 for prospecting as well as relic hunting. For dedicated goldfields work, a purpose-built machine like the Gold Bug 2 goes further.
What is the difference between the 10 in and 11 in coil versions?
The 10 in (25 cm) DD elliptical closed coil is more agile in brush and trashy sites. The 11 in (28 cm) DD covers more ground per sweep with more depth in open fields. Both coils are waterproof.
Is the Fisher F19 waterproof?
The search coil is waterproof; the control housing is weather-resistant but must not be submerged.
What batteries does the F19 use and is it made in the USA?
It runs on a 9V battery, and yes, the F19 is made in the USA by Fisher Research Labs, a First Texas Products brand.
Is the F19 good for a beginner?
It is friendly to start on with real room to grow. The iron audio and tone controls reward learning, which makes it a strong first serious detector for relic hunters.