When Do You Drill Pin Holes

[Ragnarok Forge]

I have been all over the map on when I drill pin holes in the tang of a knife.  I have been thinking thru my knife making process and want to get it to a series of uniform steps that I do the same every time.

I have drilled the pin holes right after grinding the final shape, right after normalizing, and after hardening.  I stick the blade in my water quench tank and heat the tang to a light blue when I drill after the quench.  

So the question I have is at what point in your process are you drilling your pin holes, why do drill the holes at that point in your process?

[kansas stik man]

im not very experianced but i like to drill right after i get the shape of the knife ground and the bevels done.  but way before i harden it. thats just me though who knows if thats the best or worst way to do it.

[srtben]

I do all my drilling pre heat treat. I do stock removal blades, my process goes as follows: Anneal stock, cut rough outline, grind profile, grind bevels, DRILL HOLES, Hand sand to 320, Heat treat.
My knives are totally complete prior to sharpening, saves my hands a bit that way.

[tippit]

I drill right before my last couple of normalization before quench.  If your going to drill after quenching, a nice way to draw the temper out of the tang & back of the blade is to bury the blade in wet sand and heat with a torch.  The tempering won't travel into the blade.  Also a good way to ensure a nice soft back spine...Doc

[Scott Roush]

always after final grinding before heat treat. I also do all the handle wood preparation at that time.  It is nice to have that all ready to go after tempering and testing.   I could easily do it after the heat treat if I want to...  although, with my thinner stock I would rather not take a chance and have some hardened steel in the wrong place.

[OconeeDan]

Assuming a stock removal knife, anytime before a heat treat.  I drill right after cutting out the blade and grinding the profile.
Dan