Wire to rope halyards
Those are wire to rope halyards, and I'd chuck them down to "Davey Jones" if I had them. The guy who owned them probably converted his halyards over to non-stretch braid. He also replaced the sheaves to accept the new halyards. I would have done the very same thing if I had them on my boat. I take that back. Maybe I'd just keep the rope and throw the wire away.
Joe