Blunter the better for the pike I would think, no need to emmbed, just to grab the far edge lift & flip.

Ever since that conversation, Ive sorta seen the "lipped" Shipwrights form as intended for this particular task.

In examples we (any of us) have examined, has peening of the poll been commonly found? Is such not there because that tip is sufficiently hardened for driving nails, or is it not there because this was not the intended use?