"Irish 1/2 Pikes - how long?" Topic

I understand the Scots tended to cut down their pikes, running randomly from 12-18 feet in length.

But how long was a "half-pike" which is refenced as being carried by Irish in the ECW period?

Interesting article here

PDF link

Worth exactly what you paid for it :)

Excellent

I have seen no reference to an Irish half pike in this period in fact some said the Irish victory at Benburb was due to the full length Irish Pike. You might be thinking of the pike in'98.

If you are talking about the Irish in Montrose's army this is not correct. They did not carry any pikes at all whatever some modern writers say. (though officers might have done)

Oh has it right, the Irish did carry longer pikes than the Scots at Benburb as quoted in Firths "Cromwells Army". It may be of some interest that the shape of the pike heads was also a factor, the Scots being noted as having a leaf blade, less well suited to inflicting a penetrating wound than the Irish diamond ground points. The practice of cutting pikes down to 12'was one continually noted throughout the civil war period particularly in armies engaged on long campaigns as soldiers sought to rid themselves of any excess burden much in the same way as armour was discarded.

I am using some Eureka 28mm Scot Highlander for my Montrose army. They have "pike" units, but all the rules (1644, WHECW, et al) say the Highlanders had no pikes. So for those "pike" figs, what should I give them??? Spears???