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The shashka or shasqua (Adyghe: сэшхуэ, [saʃxʷa] – long-knife; Russian: шашка) is a kind of North Caucasian sabre; a single-edged, single-handed, and guardless backsword. 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.