The invention relates to a method and an apparatus for producing a rod- or pipe-shaped intermediate product provided with an end face (106) from a semi-finished connecting element (102) made of metal, in particular an insertion end of a drill or chisel attached in an axially movable manner in the chuck of a hammer drill, the connecting element (100′) having at least one rotary entrainment surface (162, 164) and at least one locking depression (122, 124), the locking depression (122, 124) being preferably embodied as a locking groove, a semi-finished connecting element (102) being provided, the at least one rotary entrainment surface (162, 164) being formed in the semi-finished connecting element (102) by axially forcing the semi-finished connecting element (102) in the direction of the longitudinal axis (136) of the semi-finished connecting element (102) into a longitudinal die opening (204) of a die (202), or being embossed in the semi-finished connecting element (102) by radially applying at least one movable forming body (206), and the at least one locking depression (122, 124) being embossed by radially applying at least one or multiple forming bodies (206) that are movable in the same die (202).