The invention relates to a lancing device (1) for taking blood samples, comprising a housing (2), an axially displaceable lancet holder element (32) for holding a lancet (12), and a display apparatus (40) for displaying the respective operating states (41,42) of the lancing device (1), the display apparatus (40) comprising a release element (13) for initiating a lancing procedure, in which the axially displaceable lancet holder element (32) is accelerated in a lancing direction (18), in which, when the lancing device (1) is in an operating state (41) ready for lancing, the release element (13) is arranged in a disengaged display position (43) projecting further outwards over the outer housing surface (15) than when the lancing device (1) is in a different operating state (42).