Shashka
| Shashka | |
|---|---|
Caucasian shashka | |
| Type | Sword |
| Place of origin | Caucasus (Probably Georgia) |
| Production history | |
| Produced | 1600 to present (Still in use by Jordan's royal Circassian guard) |
| Specifications | |
| Mass | approx. 0.3–1 kg (0.66–2.20 lb) |
| Blade length | approx. 65–86 cm (26–34 in) |
| Blade type | Curved, single-edged |
| Hilt type | Single-handed swept, Without guard |
| Scabbard/sheath | wood and leather decorated with brass, gold and silver. |
The shashka or shasqua (Abkhaz: Аҳәа, Асахәа; Adyghe: сэшхуэ, [saʃxʷa] – long-knife; Chechen: Гlорда, Гlурда/Терс-маймал; Dargin: ШушкIа; Georgian: ჭოლაური, ch'olauri; Ingush: Гурде/Г1ама; Lezgin: Шуьш; Ossetian: ахсан/ахсæн, Шашкæ; Russian: шашка) is a kind of Caucasian sabre: a single-edged, single-handed, and guardless sabre. The comparatively gentle curve of a shashka blade puts the weapon midway between a radically curved sabre and a straight sword, effective for both cutting and thrusting.