Spiked Throwing Weapons, Caltrops and Armoured Horseshoes
German 'spuntoni', pear-shaped iron spikes, foot-traps and a protective hoof plate
The sheet gathers hand-thrown iron spike weapons ('spuntoni') that Leonardo describes as used by the Germans on the Italian border, drawn straight, barbed and pear-shaped, and carried several at the belt. Below are iron caltrops ('triboli') to be scattered before the enemy's horses during a retreat, and a horseshoe fitted with an iron plate to shield the horse's hoof against those same caltrops. The drawings show the weapons in several forms alongside a mirror-written text explaining their use.
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German thrown spike weapon ('spuntone')
A weapon used by the Germans where their land borders Italy, thrown edge-on like a throwing knife so that one of its points is bound to strike the enemy. Four or five are carried at the belt, together with a buckler ('rotella') and a falchion ('falcione').
Armoured horseshoe with iron plate (a)
Instructions to set an iron plate, as thick as the back of a knife, between the horseshoe and the horse's foot, labelled a. Leonardo calls this an excellent defence against the caltrops, and advises making the horseshoes with a solid bottom for safety.
Iron caltrops ('triboli') for a retreat
Two four-pointed caltrops meant to be dropped in quantity before the feet of the enemy's horses by the last men-at-arms as they flee, useful when the enemy has broken your line.