The present invention relates to a portable metal detector adapted for detection of dangerous metallic items carried by individuals, for example during access to a departure lounge in an airport, comprising a casing which houses a transmitter/receiver winding, the casing being extended by a gripping and handling handle, and a processor which feeds a loop of the winding to generate a magnetic field and which detects perturbations of the magnetic field caused by the environment, characterised in that the detector comprises a sensor for detecting orientation of the detector in a vertical position of the handle and which, when the detector is in a vertical position, activates a single dynamic detection mode of the winding whereas, when the detector is in another position, it activates a static operating mode of the winding.