Strachan has got to go.

Here you go. From wiki.

 

"A pike is a pole weapon, a very long thrusting spear formerly used extensively by infantry. Unlike many similar weapons, the pike is not intended to be thrown. Pikes were used regularly in European warfare from the early Middle Ages[1] until around 1700, and were wielded by foot soldiers deployed in close quarters.

Generally, a spear becomes a pike when it is too long to be wielded with one hand in combat".

 

A pike could be twice as tall as a man and the wooden shaft of the weapon was known as the staff. So as plain as a pikestaff means something so big and obvious that it can't be missed.

Thank you.