The extreme length of such weapons required a strong wood such as well-seasoned ash for the pole, which was tapered towards the point to prevent the pike from sagging on the ends, although drooping or slight flection of the shaft was always a problem in pike handling.
When the troops of opposing armies both carried the pike, it often grew in a sort of arms race, getting longer in both shaft and head length to give one side's pikemen an edge in combat. The shaft near the head was often reinforced with metal strips called 'cheeks' or langets. It had a wooden shaft with an iron or steel spearhead affixed. It was approximately 2.5–6 kg (5.5–13.2 lb) in weight, with 16th century military writer Sir John Smythe recommending lighter rather than heavier pikes. The pike was a long weapon, varying considerably in size, from 3 to 7.5 metres (10 to 25 feet) long.
Re-enactment during the 2009 Escalade in Geneva.