Today, I did some cutting with a Caucasian Shashka from Kizlyar. These shashkas are imported from Russia by Legion USA. My main focus in this cutting session was draw cutting. These shashkas are made to be able to deliver a very quick cut from the draw. These scabbards enclose some or, in this case, all of the saber's grip. The sword is drawn by running your hand over the top of the scabbard, catching the base of your pinky finger on the extended portion of the wide pommel, and then gripping the handle once it clears the mouth of the scabbard. A cut can then be quickly delivered. With years of practice, experts with this weapon can deliver a cut much faster than I did in this video. This Kizlyar Shashka cuts very well, though it did require a bit of sharpening before performing these cuts.
Here is a link to a review that I am writing for this shashka:[ Ссылка ]
