Speaking of bones, I'll give you guys an update on the guy who found the chest of weapons right at the start. He went on, surviving many close calls and finding truly astounding weaponry (steel spear +3 in UT, anyone?) until he became my best character ever. He had killed the mystic frog on the frog level, had gone back to town for some chatting and a few odds and ends, then was on his way back down into the gloomy depths when he was ambushed in GC1 by an orc slaughterer. With bronze axes +5.
I dunno, mines aren't that common in UT. Throw it so it'll break? Wands are prone to breakage, even if it's made of valpurium (as I happen to know from trying a wizard-themed character in WM, who wielded valpurium wands. They still broke after a few hits.)