Drilling 440A after hardening-cobalt bit?

[M&J]

Someone asked me about rehandling some 440A knives. They used 1/8" pins and they asked about some larger 1/4" deco pins. Had me wondering if an M35 type cobalt bit is capable of drilling this steel if it is about RC56? If the cobalt can do it for a handful of holes that would be great.

I have some M.A. Ford carbide bits for the hard stuff but not in this size so buying a 1/4",F or 6.4mm sized straight flute bit is some $ I'd like to avoid.

[M&J]

Since that post I've drilled a variety of hardened steels for handle refurbs. The M A Ford carbide 200 series straight flue bits are worth the $. On the RC59+ blades, I may not get as many holes but still relative to the ease these drill them it has been worth it. Go slow and with a coolant-wetting solution.

[Doug Lester]

I have used carbide spade bits to frill hardened tangs in carbon steel blades. Well forth the investment. Of course, you can keep the tang out of the quenchant when quenching the blade and use a regular drill bit but it's nice to have the carbide bits just in case.

Doug