"The practice of duelling developed from trial by combat, a form of dispute resolutin not formally abolished in England until 1818. Most European societies regarded duelling as an acceptable way for a gentleman to defend his honour, and some countries had duelling codes to regulate it, the first being the code duello published in Italy during the Renaissance period. Duelling with swords was very popular among German students, a scar on the face sustained in a duel being seen as a badge of honour (Mensur or academic fencing, which does not involve injury or death, still being popular there). Technically never outlawed in more than half of the fifty American states, including Illinois, Texas and Virginia, it is nonetheless effectively obsolete in the civilized world"--Inside cover.