Fisher F19 Metal Detector with 11 Inch DD Elliptical Coil

The Fisher F19 is a 19 kHz VLF metal detector for relic hunting, coin shooting and gold prospecting in iron and mineralized ground, with a 40-point iron discrimination scale, FeTone adjustable iron audio, V-Break tone control, manual and Ground Grab ground balance and a 1 to 99 target ID. Fisher lists this configuration with an 11 inch DD elliptical waterproof coil; the F19 runs on one 9V battery and carries a 2-year Fisher warranty.

What is in the box with the Fisher F19 with 11 inch DD coil

Fisher's standard contents for the F19 with 11 inch DD coil

• Fisher F19 control box and shaft
• 11 inch DD elliptical waterproof searchcoil

Who the Fisher F19 is for

The F19 suits experienced hunters on nail-filled home sites, relic fields and farm ground, and prospectors looking for small gold. The 19 kHz frequency favors small, low-conductivity targets such as gold and small relics, and Fisher also lists the F19 for coins and dry sand beaches. We would choose it over the 7.69 kHz F-Series models when iron control and small targets matter more than simplicity.

Iron control: the 40-point scale, FeTone and V-Break

The 40-point iron discrimination scale is what sets the F19 apart. You choose how much iron to reject in 40 steps, so you can stop just short of the targets you want. FeTone works alongside it: set iron to a low volume and you still hear the nails, while a button or cut coin between them stands out. V-Break moves the point where the audio changes tone, so you can put the tone change where your local trash and good targets split.

The F19 has two modes, All Metal and Discrimination, with notch discrimination and multiple tones with V.C.O. audio in both. All Metal hears every metal target, which we would use for gold and for relic sites where you dig everything.

Ground balance, pinpoint and display

Ground Grab balances to the ground automatically, manual ground balance fine-tunes it, and the Fe3O4 bar graph shows how mineralized the soil is. We would check ground balance again whenever you move to new ground, and run gain where the F19 stays quiet rather than at maximum. The non-motion pinpoint and signal strength bars show depth, and the backlight adjusts over 0 to 5 levels for dawn and dusk hunts.

Where the Fisher F19 works best and its limits

The F19 is at home on old home sites, relic fields, farm ground and in gold country. Fisher’s spec sheet lists the control box as not weatherproof and points to the optional rain cover, so we would keep the F19 out of heavy rain, and it is not a wading or underwater detector. Fisher does not list wet salt sand for the F19; for saltwater beaches, see our beach metal detectors. The 9V battery is rated 15 to 20 hours, so we would carry a spare alkaline battery.

The 11 inch DD coil

Fisher lists this configuration, the F19-11D, with an 11 inch DD elliptical waterproof searchcoil in place of the standard 10 inch DD coil. We would choose the 11 inch coil for covering open fields and pastures, where each sweep clears more ground, and the 10 inch coil for tight, iron-heavy spots.

Fisher F19 compared with the rest of the F-Series

The F75 beside the F19 runs at 13 kHz with DST to suppress electrical interference and FASTGRAB ground balance, at 3.5 lb (1.6 kg) on four AA batteries. For a lighter weatherproof detector with simpler controls, the F44 runs at 7.69 kHz.

Fisher F19 specifications

Fisher covers the F19 with a 2-year warranty. Spare coils, the lower rod and the F19 manual are in our Fisher F19 collection.

Authorized Fisher dealer with a showroom in Ypsilanti, Michigan. Full manufacturer warranty and help from our staff by phone or email.