Abstract: A drive-in dowel formed as a sleeve (2, 22) provided with a load application element (3, 23) and having a front section formed of a plurality of expansion elements separated from each other by longitudinal slots, with each of the plurality of expansion elements being formed of a trailing expansion tab (8, 28) and a leading expansion tab (9, 29) separated by a flexible transitional region (6, 26) and forming with each other an angle (.alpha.) from about 100.degree. to about 160.degree., with a front end of the leading tab being located closer to a sleeve longitudinal axis (A) than the flexible transitional region (6, 26); and with the sleeve being provided with a plurality of chisel-like cutters (10) on outer surfaces of respective flexible transition regions (6; 26) which substantially do not project beyond the outer diameter of the sleeve.