Strykplattor

Strykplattor is a Swedish projectile weapon used in earlier times, particularly during the 18th and 19th centuries. It was primarily utilized by the army and other military forces in Sweden, Finland, and Denmark-Norway. The weapon consists of a wooden or metal plate with a set of needles or spikes, attached to a handle for easy operation.

The Strykplattor was designed to be used as a hail of spikes or needles would be hurled at the enemy, causing damage through piercing and slashing. It was often employed in siege warfare and battles against fortifications. The weapon's operational mechanism varies: some models featured a mechanism allowing the user to flick the plate in multiple directions, while others simply required manual force to propel the spike-filled plate.

The Strykplattor's effectiveness as a war implement is debated among historians. It could potentially cause chaos and harm opponents due to the sheer number of projectiles involved, yet its overall impact would likely be limited when compared to other soldiering tools of the time, such as cannons. The Strykplattor is believed to have been largely outdated by the mid-19th century as improvements in artillery technology led to the widespread adoption of birud-enabled artillery and the eventual decline of the Strykplattor's use.