Page 76 - Loss of the VOC Retourschip Batavia, Western Australia, 1629
P. 76

              Touch-bole prickers BAT 3337
BAT 3616
BAT 3680
BAT 3244B
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BAT 3337
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Several brass touch-hole prickers were recovered. These consisted of a simple brass rod, between 320 and 330 mm long and about 4 mm in diameter, tapering to a twisted point at one end and a distinctive figure-of-eight at the other end. The prickers were used to pierce the cattridges in the breech of the gun. This was done by inserting the pricker into the vent and pushing it into the cartridge so breaking the seal. Gunpowder was then run into the vent so tha~ on ignition, the fire ran down the vent and set off the cartridge.
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