I knew this day was coming. I just hoped Dave, with his amazing fighting spirit, would keep postponing the inevitable forever. However, as legendary and tenacious as Dave was, he was still human. Dave had battled ALS (Lou Gehrig’s disease) for many, many years. He frequently mentioned, with some well-deserved pride, that he had far exceeded the life span doctors laid out before him. He took offense to being boxed in when it came to modern medical assumptions. He did his own research and greatly prolonged his life with natural treatments. His personal research into the disease has no doubt helped many others. He shared his findings with ALS forums and made sure it was available to anyone who could use it.
Dave Johnson had quite a few metal detector designs…amongst which are the: Shadow X-5, White’s MXT, Fisher CZ series, Teknetics T2, Fisher F75, etc. He would be the first to tell you that without the work of Jorge Saad, John Gardiner and others, his First Texas Products day would not have been successful.
My personal experience with “Mr. J” as I called him, goes back to the birth of the Teknetics T2. I had been a metal detector hobbyist most of my life and was getting back into it more seriously in the 90’s. While spending some time on a metal detecting hobby forum in the 2000’s, I started reading about new metal detector coming from Teknetics and designed by a well known engineer named Dave Johnson. This was around 2006. The T2 was (to put it lightly!) a very weird looking metal detector when it was released. Dave Johnson later said that ergonomics, weight and balance were key design goals for the T2. He definitely succeeded. It was a groundbreaking design.
I then read where First Texas Products was purchasing Fisher Labs. As part of the launch of the new Fisher, Dave Johnson was wanting to release a new flagship metal detector for the company. This detector would be the Fisher F-75. I basically begged Dave Johnson to field test this new machine (yes…I had no shame!). Dave and FTP let me get in on the field testing…and it was a true joy for me. This lead to being involved with more Dave Johnson (and John Gardiner, Jorge Saad) metal detector testing. Products like the F-70, F-5, Teknetics G2, etc. Dave seemed to enjoy the style of feedback I gave and I definitely enjoyed giving it.
Since those field testing days, I’ve stayed in touch with “Mr. J.”. We exchanged emails often. He was definitely a free thinker and not afraid to rock the boat a bit :). This was in both the metal detector world and in his private life. I feel genuinely honored to have known Dave. His sharp intellect and friendship will be missed.
I owe most of “what” Detectorstuff.com is to David. He would willingly give me quotes, answers and copies of his essays. He encouraged me to pursue my idea of starting a website (originally a forum) way, way back. I loved to try and get tidbits of insider news on “secret” new detectors that were coming from First Texas…it was a game he enjoyed as much as I did. I would “guess” and try to gauge his reaction as to whether I was on the right track…he had a heckuva “poker face” (or poker voice…this was over the phone)
Although Dave is gone, his legacy lives on. Current and future legends are hard at work over at First Texas Products. People like Jorge Saad, John Gardiner, Mark Krieger and Carl Moreland. The torch is officially passed to their accomplished and able hands. Great things will be coming from Fisher, Teknetics and Bounty Hunter.
I reached out to Tom Walsh, President of First Texas Products. I asked him if he had any interesting stories about David. He relayed the following and gave me permission to relay to you.
“My first/best memory of David:
I met David at a 2001 FMDAC (Federation of Metal Detecting and Archaeology Clubs) convention in Laughlin, NV. He quite nervously claimed to have invented world-beating metal detectors for the likes of Fisher, Whites and Tesoro while possessing a skill-set of hard-to-pronounce technical capabilities. New to the industry, I dismissed him a shuckster. After the show, he pursued me relentlessly explaining that he was out of work, I knew nothing of metal detectors and that I had better hire him. Or else!
How could a guy with these credentials be out of work? You have to know David. Could David’s knack for being brutally honest with people not have set well in your traditional workplace environment?
At the time, First Texas was developing a new line of metal detectors for Radio Shack; I was unhappy with their performance. Now a novice treasure-hunter, I could not get the engineers to understand my frustration with the ground-noise; my wife kept telling me, “pues no sirve.” But I’m determined to be successful in my new venture!
I relent and purchase David a plane ticket. From the airport crowd, I immediately pick out the guy wearing a White’s hat; great first impression trying to hire on at Bounty Hunter! First stop, the engineer’s office where I vent my frustration as David unravels our D-size schematics across the table …. silence. More silence. Silence …. two queries. Answered. David looks at me, points his finger and says “your problem is right here.”
Today hanging framed in my office is the hand-written schematic David faxed to us a few days later which immediately solved the problem. We went on to sell some 4 million detectors employing David’s brilliant new “2000-series Payne circuit.”
After David got bored improving all of our designs, he told me he was going to reinvent the metal detector. We just couldn’t call it a Bounty Hunter, so brushed off the Teknetics brand and launched the T2. He told me not to buy Fisher; I did anyway. He took amusement in our assemblage of other nichey little businesses while making not-to-infrequent design contributions to many of them. He taught everyone at First Texas most everything we know about metal detectors, opening up a fun new world of adventures and opportunities.
David Johnson: High school degreed (I think). Self-educated. Accomplished physicist, geophysicist, analog engineer, firmware engineer, amateur medical practitioner, all around great guy.
We miss you David and we’re working hard to finish your work and make you proud.
Tom Walsh
President
First Texas Holdings Corporation”
Here are a few links to articles on my site related to Dave J.
Here is the tribute to Dave Johnson from the First Texas Products Facebook page:
In Loving Memory of Dave Johnson (1949–2025)
With profound sadness, we announce the passing of Dave Johnson, a luminary in the world of metal detecting and engineering. Known for his unmatched innovation and dedication, Dave’s legacy has forever transformed the metal detecting industry and inspired countless enthusiasts worldwide.
A Life of Innovation and Passion
Born and raised in California, with much of his life spent in Arizona, Dave Johnson’s journey into engineering began with his curiosity for electronics. His career in metal detection started in 1981 when he joined Fisher Research Labs in California. Over the decades, Dave contributed to some of the most iconic names in the industry, including Tesoro, White’s, and Troy, before finding his home at First Texas Products in 2002. At First Texas, he spearheaded designs that set new performance, usability, and innovation benchmarks.
Dave’s contributions include groundbreaking designs for Fisher, Teknetics, and Bounty Hunter. His work on models such as the Teknetics T2, Fisher F75, and the Gold Bug II made them industry icons renowned for their precision, depth, and sensitivity. He had an extraordinary talent for blending technological complexity with exterior simplicity, making his detectors accessible yet powerful tools for hobbyists and professionals.
The Mastermind Behind the Machines
Dave’s approach to design reflected his philosophy of excellence and user-friendliness. His insistence on superior ergonomics, as seen in the T2 and F75, revolutionized the way detectors were used, ensuring they became extensions of the user rather than mere tools. He once remarked, “I like products that are easy to use. I don’t like complicated stuff,” a mantra evident in every detector he touched.
His ability to listen to the needs of the detecting community and translate those into technical breakthroughs was unparalleled. Whether it was the CZ series, which took nearly a decade to perfect, or the F75’s superior depth and target separation, Dave’s designs turned challenges into opportunities for advancement. His genius wasn’t just in creating machines but in creating connections—between the detector, the user, and the history waiting to be uncovered.
A Legacy That Spanned Generations
Throughout his illustrious career, Dave’s work helped unearth treasures and memories, but his impact reached far beyond his machines. He was a mentor to many in the industry, a collaborative teammate who valued the input of others, and an advocate for accessible, quality engineering. He frequently credited his success to the teams he worked with, including John Gardiner, Jorge Anton Saad, and others who shared his passion.
Dave’s humility was evident in his admission that he wasn’t the best detectorist. “I’m not a good detectorist. That’s why I like simple, easy-to-use machines,” he joked. Yet his profound understanding of soils, terrain, and the science behind metal detecting made him a giant in the field.
An Unforgettable Legacy
Dave’s designs are more than just machines—they are extensions of his brilliance and a testament to his life’s work. From the simplicity of the Bounty Hunter to the cutting-edge performance of the F75, his creations have been loved by hobbyists and professionals alike. His contributions to VLF technology, soil mineralization management, and detector sensitivity will continue to influence the industry for years.
Dave Johnson’s life was defined by curiosity, ingenuity, and a relentless pursuit of excellence. His contributions to the metal detecting community will forever be remembered in the machines he designed and the countless memories and discoveries they have facilitated.
A Final Tribute
Dave once said, “We’re building on a legacy that was created by many people.” Today, we honor him as a cornerstone of that legacy. His passing leaves a void that can never be filled, but his spirit and contributions will continue to inspire all those who share his passion for discovery.
Rest in peace, Dave. Your innovations will continue to guide and inspire us, and your memory will forever resonate with the sound of discovery.
With most profound respect and gratitude,
Your Family at First Texas Products and the entire Metal Detecting Community
