scottish infantry were generally armed, as was almost universal in western europe, with a combination of pike and shot. pikes were theoretically long, but were often shortened by a foot or two to make them more manageable, this had disastrous consensuses at the battle of benburb (1646), where the confederate irish defeated the scots because they possessed longer pikes. musketeers were mainly armed with matchlock muskets, with some firelocks (probably mainly reserved for troops defending the baggage and ammunition) and there were a handful of troops that brought more accurate rifled guns. continental experience tended to increasingly emphasise firepower over melee and this was reflected in the greater proportions of shot to pike, usually in proportions of three to two. scottish armies may also have had individuals with weapons including bows, lochaber axes, and halberds. as recruits who lacked pike and shot were told to report with these. most cavalry were probably equipped with pistols and swords, although there is some evidence that they included lancers.