David Weaver
I would assume that's what's happening when i drill saw plates. It's rough on the HSS bits, but they're not high quality bits. I can do three holes on a saw, and then I have to resharpen the bit if I want to use it again the next time I make a saw.

Wouldn't be the preferred method if I were making a lot of them!

Suppose they were punched on old saws before the saw was hardened and brought to spring temper.