Ending 26th Apr, 2026 16:00
Olympia Timed: The Robert E. Brooker Jr. Collection of Rare Antique Military Arms, Part IV
18
‡ A BRITISH NAVAL AXE FOR HMS BLAKE, LAUNCHED 1942, DECOMMISSIONED 1979 AND SCRAPPED 1982
with triangular axe-blade and beaked peen, stamped ‘HMS BLAKE’ on one side and with War Department broad arrow mark on the other, on swelling wooden haft of circular section, 21.5 cm head
Provenance
Robert Brooker Collection inv. no. S-441
HMS Blake was a light cruiser of the Tiger class, the last traditional Royal Navy gun-armed cruiser of the 20th century.
Sold for £110
with triangular axe-blade and beaked peen, stamped ‘HMS BLAKE’ on one side and with War Department broad arrow mark on the other, on swelling wooden haft of circular section, 21.5 cm head
Provenance
Robert Brooker Collection inv. no. S-441
HMS Blake was a light cruiser of the Tiger class, the last traditional Royal Navy gun-armed cruiser of the 20th century.
Auction: Olympia Timed: The Robert E. Brooker Jr. Collection of Rare Antique Military Arms, Part IV, ending 26th Apr, 2026
The Robert E. Brooker Jr. Collection represents one of the most significant collections of its type assembled in the modern era. Spanning more than three centuries, it comprises a remarkable and highly coherent group of munition firearms, edged weapons and associated objects, distinguished by its breadth, quality and consistency of focus.
The present sale concentrates on edged weapons and firearms of the 17th, 18th and 19th centuries, a period shaped by near-continuous conflict, evolving from dynastic and cavalry-dominated warfare to mass, increasingly industrialised armies defined by discipline, standardisation and the growing power of the state. The evolution of weapon design during this period saw the emergence of distinct patterns and regulated models, driven by the changing requirements of the battlefield and, in turn, advances in manufacture.
This group offers collectors an exceptional opportunity to acquire a number of rare and representative pieces from this significant collection.
Viewing
PUBLIC EXHIBITION:
Sunday 19th April: 12pm to 4pm
Monday 20th April: 10am to 7pm
Tuesday 21st April: 10am to 5pm
Wednesday 22nd April: 10am to 5pm
AUCTION:
Closing from: 4pm 26th April, 2026
