There's plenty of nerves running around the face and due to the amount of bone, probably necessarily close to the surface. Are there occasions when these get severed leaving the recipient less able to control their facial or jaw muscles?

The facial nerve is the 7th cranial nerve. It's branches innervate the muscles of facial expression. It is deep and it takes a deep cut to sever it's branches usually through muscle. Most of the scars are horizontal and I dont think I have seen one associated with a facial palsy.

The thick leather strap of the Paukbrille ("duelling glasses") protects much of the nervus facialis. When the cheeks get severed, however, some people complain from weird effects for a while (e.g. skins starts sweating when chewing). This always seemed to go away at some point though.

Never heard about that, and I heard a lot of stories in the last 15 years about fencing.

I don't think with functional loss, but severance of nerves there happens very very rarely. A few years ago a friend of mine had some jaw nerve/muscles severed, but regained full functionality.

Are there ever any severely disfiguring facial injuries from such duels, of a kind that frighten children or nauseate passersby? From which even community members cringe?

I am probably biased, but I don’t think so. In the days and weeks after the duel it looks heavy, but after months and years it in most cases barely visible from walking-by distance. There are some funny terms for extensive scaring on some cheeks like “Rangierbahnhof” (railway yard).

Well, ok, then. Sign me up. I want one.

Funny, I have scars in my legs and arms from dull training sabre and epiee. Completely accidental of course

In Austria this scar thing is only a thing amongst far right winged fraternities. Same in Germany?

Not really, the majority of fencing fraternities in Germany are not politically determined, except of course a general bias towards traditional mindset.

It usually is. Well connected fraternities at that.

Bierjunge!

Hängt

Does it hurt?

The weapons are sharpened in such a way that they leave clean cuts. The Adrenalin is high enough so you don’t really realize the hit and direct aftermath, only the blood running down. Of course there is the healing pain, can be quite painful.

Would you say this "Mondo Italian" video is a fair representation of the dueling tradition?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lUh5exBJXBU

No, this clip is widely considered as bogus in the community.

Nonetheless it looks very appealing. I’m not sure exactly why, other than I fence and like beer.