This is one of five priming wires, also known as “reamers” or “prickers”, recovered from the Mary Rose.
This example was recovered from the upper deck and rather than the simple twists and coils of the others, it features a cast, embellished heart design. It also appears to have been screw-tipped, allowing it to clean debris from the touch hole that may be left after firing, as well as to puncture the linen powder bags within which the gunpowder was loaded into the gun.
