German fencing students getting their dueling scars, circa 1900. Dueling scars have been seen as a “badge of honour” since as early as 1825. Known variously as “Mensur scars”, “the bragging scar”, “smite”, “Schmitte”, or “Renommierschmiss”, dueling scars were popular amongst upper class Germans and Austrians involved in academic fencing at the start of the 20th century. Being a practice amongst university students, it was seen as a mark of their class and honour, due to the status of dueling soc