Well it makes a noise, I'm not entirely sure what kind of noise. I haven't seen one since the 80's...actually not that's not true. Chris Bowes from Alestorm uses a blood covered one because he's a goofy fucker who doesn't take anything too serious.
When you pretend to be a pirate who drinks rum, chases wenches and slaughters kraken to make fried calamari then I think any blood just adds to the aesthetics