Study for a reciprocating mechanical saw
Two red-chalk views of a saw driven by alternating motion, drawn inverted
Drawn inverted on the sheet, in red chalk (sanguigna), is a study for a mechanical saw with alternating (reciprocating) motion. An upper view shows the saw frame with a driving wheel; a lower view gives a detail and variant of the same mechanism, with a boxed housing and crank wheel. Two brief labels accompany the drawings: pece (pitch) and sanza vite (without screw).
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Mechanical saw with alternating motion
The main study shows a saw driven back and forth by a wheel, its blade held in a rigid frame. The label pece (pitch) marks the mechanism, indicating the material or point Leonardo had in mind.
Detail and variant without a screw
A second view gives a detail and variant of the saw, built around a boxed housing and crank wheel. It is labelled sanza vite (without screw), noting that this version dispenses with a screw element.