The Shashka (Adyghe: (Сащхъуэ, Сашфэ, Сэшхуэ),Russian: (Шашка)) is a special kind of sabre; a very sharp, single-edged, single-handed, and guardless sword. In appearance, the shashka was midway between a full sabre and a straight sword. It had a slightly curved blade, and could be effective for both slashing and thrusting. The blade was either hollowed or fullered. There was no guard, but a large, curved pommel. The hilt was frequently highly decorated. It was carried in a wooden scabbard that enclosed part of the hilt. It was worn with the cutting edge to the rear, opposite to the sabre.

The shashka originated among the mountain tribes of the Caucasus in the 12th or 13th century. Later it was used by most of the Russian and Ukrainian^{[citation needed]}Cossacks. So there are two styles of shashka: the Caucasian shashka and the Cossack shashka.

It was a typically Adyghean (Circassian) form of sabre, longer than the Cossack type, in fact the word shashka came from the Adyghe word Adyghe: ( Шашькуэ) "Shashkwa" means "long knife". It gradually replaced the sabre in all cavalry units except hussars during the 19th century. Russian troops, having encountered it during their conquest of the Caucasus, preferred it to their issue sabres. It was adopted first by the Russian Caucasian Corps in the 1830s. In 1882, when the cavalry was reorganized, the regular dragoons were armed with the shashka. Cossacks had received this type of sword earlier. Several forms of shashka were carried by Soviet cavalry into the Second World War.

Matthew Powell (born 8 May 1978 in Abergavenny, Wales) is a Welsh rugby union footballer, who played for Worcester Warriors at scrum-half.

Matt Powell joined Worcester Warriors in 2003 and last season penned a new three-year deal to commit himself to the club until 2010.

Matt, who was part of the promotion winning team of 2003/04 previously played for Saracens and Harlequins

He was involved in the Wales set-up for the last two games of the Six Nations in 2006 and his consistent displays were later rewarded with a late call-up to play for the Barbarians in their annual match as a replacement for the former All Black, Justin Marshall. He has also made over 100 appearances in the English elite.

He announced his retirement after the 08-09 season and took up a position in the backroom staff.