Tesoro Metal Detectors
Tesoro were the brand that proved you didn’t need a screen to find good targets. For nearly forty years they built lightweight, analogue, turn-on-and-go detectors out of Arizona, backed by a lifetime warranty that became the stuff of legend. The company closed in 2018, but Tesoro machines are still loved and still finding things.
About Tesoro
Tesoro Electronics was founded in 1980 in Prescott, Arizona, by Jack Gifford, an engineer who believed a detector should be light, simple and deadly effective rather than loaded with menus. The range built a devoted following on exactly that, machines like the Silver uMax that you could swing all day. After Jack’s death the family kept it going, but rising competition from digital, multi-frequency machines caught up with the analogue formula, and Tesoro ceased trading in 2018.
Company at a glance
Founded 1980 in Prescott, Arizona, by Jack Gifford. Family-run for its whole life and famous for a transferable lifetime warranty. The company ceased operations in 2018, so Tesoro detectors are now a secondhand-only proposition with no manufacturer support.
Best Tesoro Detectors
Tesoro is a heritage pick now rather than a current buy. In our lineup the Silver uMax is the classic example of what made the brand special: feather-light, dead simple, and a genuinely capable coin and relic machine on the right ground. If you find a clean one secondhand it’s a lovely thing to swing, just remember the company is no longer around for support or parts.
Tesoro FAQ
Is Tesoro still in business?
No. Tesoro Electronics closed in 2018. Its detectors live on secondhand and still have a loyal following.
What were Tesoro detectors known for?
Lightweight, analogue, turn-on-and-go simplicity and a legendary lifetime warranty. No screens, just clean performance.
Should I buy a Tesoro now?
Only secondhand, and with eyes open: there is no manufacturer support or warranty any more. Many detectorists still rate machines like the Silver uMax for their simplicity and light weight.
