From the One Wiki to Rule Them All, the Lord of the Rings Encyclopedia.

A pike is long metal pole with a sharp point on the end. Pikes were particularly useful at defeating cavalry, as the pike would pierce the enemy's horse before the horse could trample a soldier. The pike, unlike most pole weopons is not intended to be thrown. Soldiers using these would probably not call them "pikes". Those seen in Middle-earth used by the Uruk-hai, were about 15 to 20 feet long.

[edit] The Pike As A Weapon

Near the pike head it is affixed with metal strips or "cheeks" to hold the head in place. The pike would be unwieldy in close combat. This would mean that the weilder would have to have another hand weapon such as a dagger mace or small sword if the battle turned into a melee. Though they tried to avoid such unorganized combat as they were at a disadvantige. They had either no shield, or a very small shield that had a strap so they could strap it in their arm.

[edit] Pike Tactics

Most pike tactics would envolve the weilder to kneel on one knee and drive the end of the pike into the ground at an angle. This would create a line of pikes impossible to charge at. If the horsemen did charge, they would plow right into a hedge of super sharp spikes consisting of 20 or 30 soldiers. Killing the horse and probably the rider. The pikes have their own weakness, they are heavy and hard to turn while holding one. If the battle was on a flat plain, then the cavalry could go around them and come from behind, trampling anyone behind them.

They were used at the battle of Hornburg by the Uruk-hai.

[edit] See Also

Wikipedia:Pike (weapon)

This article is a stub Boromir says this article is "so small a thing. Such a little thing!" Please expand it if you can.