The purpose of the German Schlager duels was to create fancy scars, aka Heidelberg scars, so that the German "gentlemen" could show off visible evidence of their bravery. The last six inches or so of the blade toward the tip were sharpened. No mask was worn and, when skin was broken, an irritant was rubbed into the cut to make a keloid type scar.

Other European countries had different rules, including measurement of weapons to make sure that neither party was disadvantaged. The Royal Navy had a rule that officers were not allowed to challenge their superiors. cf, Mr. Midshipman Hornblower, in which Captain Keen explains to Hornblower that it is good to have fought a duel and even better not to do so again. He also explains the reason for this stricture as being that, especially on a foreign station, advancement would be too easy if officers killed their superiors off.