Abstract: A walk-through metal detection system with split field generation coils excited in phase to generate an electromagnetic field having a substantially uniform vertical field density. A plurality of vertically distributed receiver coils are also provided, each receiver coil connected to a separate detector circuit for detecting disturbances in the generated field caused by the presence of metal objects. The signals are processed to generate an output signal indicative of the individual metal mass (or masses) of objects detected within the generated electromagnetic field. The output signal is compared to a threshold signal, and if greater than the threshold signal, then a metal object is presumed to be present within the electromagnetic field and an alarm is sounded. A remote control may be used by an operator to adjust the threshold signals. Additional processing of the detector circuit outputs differentiates between a single object of large metal mass and multiple objects of combined metal mass.