There are several designs for horse-drawn scythed chariots among Leonardo's sketches.

The first involved the use of four large scythes which were mounted in a manner similar to helicopter blades. Leonardo was a peaceable man who despised war, but this machine, with its rotating scythes is an absolute horror in that when operating it would slice the limbs from its victims, leaving them bleeding and helpless on the ground. Leonardo's sketch of this chariot depicts fallen soldiers in their death throes.

In the second one the four large blades were placed in front of the horses and rotated by a large screw. A number of smaller scythes were attached to a chariot at the rear.