That's a weapon i always overlooked (
There's also that green bamboo stick thingy.
But usually I just pull out a pistol and finish them that way.
Spears... Pikes really are great to have. That range allows striking up elevators and down from above. Ever get in the elevator, see a guy, but you cant melee them because they're on the floor above. There's your ticket.
Can also throw stun grenades up the elevator.
Also knockout grenades, if you have them, can stun dudes easy... but if they're in a bloody heap on the ground it tends to nix them. If you're running a heavy stun brigade and cant get close enough to pistol them.
edit:
early game cure for chryssalids in the pest control mission is
grav harness lady (they cant strike upward) equipped with a hammer, or pike