just finished putting scales on a very crude knife that a uncle made in the 1940s. was told that it was made from a file/ tried to drill thru the shank end (previously heated orange and let cool) got thru one hole with a #28 carbide drill then the bit broke off. was able to install fake brass rivets and made the scales out of applewood. question that i have is ; how could i have drilled holes in the shank? the shank was .125 thick and .625 wide. so i wonder if it was a file