Abstract: Rotary percussive drill bits comprising a body having a longitudinal axis, side face, end face, and cutting inserts, arranged such that during rotary percussive drilling wear tends to take place over a clearance face of the insert thus preserving the leading cutting edge of the insert, wherein the inserts have a substantially flat leading face which projects axially fowardly of the body end face to communicate at the leading cutting edge with a clearance face, with the leading cutting edge extending radially outwardly beyond the side face of the bit body.