Strong, curved, single-and false-edged blade with triple fuller, a stamp with toothed half-circles at the base; black, lacquered, wooden grip with engraved and nielloed, silver pommel. Wooden scabbard with leather covering and fine, engraved, nielloed, silver mounts, the loop featuring a high-relieved rosette.

Period: Last quarter of the 19th Century
Provenance: Caucasia
Dimension: 94.5 cm Length

The Shashka is a special kind of sabre; a very sharp, single-edged, single-handed, and guardless sword. In appearance, the shashka is midway between a full sabre and a straight sword. It has a slightly curved blade, and can be effective for both slashing and thrusting. The blade is either hollowed or fullered. 

The shashka originated among the mountain tribes of the Caucasus in the 12th century. Later most of the Russian and Ukrainian Cossacks adopted the weapon. Two styles of shashka exist: the Caucasian/Circassian shashka and the Cossack shashka. (Wikipedia)