The blade length was usually 65 to 80 centimeters (26 to 31 inches). It had a slightly curved, fullered, blade with a single edge the back of the blade was often sharpened for the 3rd of the blade nearest the tip (a false edge). The shashka was a relatively short sabre, typically being 80 to 105 centimeters (31 to 41 inches) in total length. Reproduction of an 1881 pattern 'Cossack' shashka Hilt of an 1881 pattern 'Dragoon' shashka (and revolver) Construction Sabres and daggers at the National Museum of History and Culture of Belarus, including a shashka. The last pattern shashkas to be introduced were the 1940 patterns for 'line commanding personnel' and generals-both had knuckle-bows.

The Soviet government introduced the 1927 pattern, which was very similar to the 1881 Cossack pattern production of this pattern continued until 1946. The Cossack hosts (not full-time regiments) used non-regulation shashkas until 1904, when they received their own regulation pattern. The blades of the two types were, however, essentially identical. In 1881, two patterns were introduced: a 'Cossack' pattern, which was typical in not having a guard, and a 'dragoon' pattern, which was much more like a standard sabre in having a brass knuckle-bow, and was derived from the 1841 dragoon sabre. This was followed by the 1838 pattern shashka. The first officially regulated Russian military shashka was the 1834 pattern, also called the 'Nizhegorodka'. The Terek Cossack shashka the hilt, like the Don Cossack shashka, does not go inside the scabbard.The weight of this shashka is around 1 kilogram (2.2 pounds).

The Don Cossack shashka, which has a straighter blade.The best and most famous shashkas of these types were Gurda, Volchek (running wolf symbol on the blade). This type of shashka was very light at 300–400 grams (0.66–0.88 pounds), flexible, and strong. The only problem with this type of shashka was that in the rain, water could go down into the scabbard. This type was used by Kuban Cossacks and tribes from the Caucasus. The Caucasus type, where the handle almost sits inside the scabbard.Russian troops, having encountered it during their conquest of the Caucasus (1817–1864), preferred it to their issued sabres.Īt this time, there were three types of non-regulation shashka: It gradually replaced the sabre in all cavalry units except hussars during the 19th century. The typically Circassian (Adyghe) form of sabre was longer than the Cossack type in fact, the Russian word shashka originally came from the Adyghe word – Adyghe: Cэшхуэ ( Sashko) – meaning 'long knife'. The blades of non-regulation shashkas were of diverse origins some were locally made in the Caucasus, others in Russia, some were manufactured in Germany, mostly in Solingen, and displayed imitations of the 'running wolf' mark of Passau. In 1834 the Russian government produced the first military-issue shashka pattern. Two styles of shashka exist: the Caucasian/Circassian shashka and the Cossack shashka. Later, most of the Russian and Ukrainian Cossacks adopted the weapon. The earliest datable example is from 1713.

The earliest depictions of this sword date to the late 17th century, though most extant shashkas have hilts dating to the 19th century. The shashka originated among the mountain tribes of the Caucasus. The comparatively subtle curve of a shashka blade puts the weapon midway between a typically curved sabre and a straight sword, effective for both cutting and thrusting. The shashka or shasqua ( Adyghe: сэшхуэ, – long-knife Russian: шашка) is a kind of sabre a single-edged, single-handed, and guardless backsword.

Dragon katana guard