Gentlemen, draw your swords

As a long-awaited sale of arms and armour arrives, Roger Field prepares to do battle over some choice lots. But will he land the 'killing blow'?

- Roger Field

ONE OF my favourite times of year is when Olympia Auctions' biannual smorgasbord of Fine Antique Arms, Armour & Militaria comes around. This year it was 25 and 26 June. The sale in question nearly always offers both weapons and armour from the 16th (and earlier) century, as well as loads of civil war and later stuff. This is 'my' period, hence my fevered anticipation. And, this time, they've got so much kit that it's spread over two days instead of their more usual one. Unlike most more general auctions, where lots tend to sell at about 60 to 100 an hour (sometimes more), Olympia can struggle to sell at 30 an hour as nutters like your correspondent fight lengthy bidding battles over the goodies coming under the hammer.

So, cue huge delight when the catalogue thumps on to the mat and I go into my well-practised 'prepping for the auction' routine. First, study carefully. Grand news: there's more of the Brooker collection of early swords. In Olympia's December 2024 sale I snaffled a fine, circa 1580s, Brooker 'tessak'; a long, basket-hilted, knightly, German fighting sword that now looks splendid on my wall. There were about 15 pre-1600 Brooker swords last December, and there are nine this time. Auctioneers are loath to risk depressing prices by flooding the market with niche objects — and 16th-century blades are pretty niche - hence spreading them over two sales. Will there be a third tranche? I won't know until next December. What I do know is that most of the bottom estimates look 'come hither' low. Then again, I bought my tessak at a 'shock' bottom estimate of £2,000, so who knows? Ever?