Step 1: Cut an octagonal piece of steel (length approx. 40 cm / 16inch / diameter approx. 2 cm / 3/4 inch). Heat one end, then beat flat to a thickness of approx. 0.5 cm / 3/16inch at the tip (cf. Fig.1.1. Work both sides and beat as wide as possible.

Step 2: Cut the round tip straight off with a chisel.

Step 3: The cutting edge at the ends is treated in the same way as step 2.

Step 4: Sharpen the cutting edge with a hammer, keeping the cutting edge flat on the anvil. The blows should be at a 45° angle to push the metal back and the drill should be rotated slightly during the process to make the cutting edge round.

Step 5: After sharpening, the drill edge is hardened as with a chisel. The tempering colour should be a dark straw yellow.

Source: Elementary Forge Practice, Robert H. Harcourt / Publisher Stanford University Press, 1917