Will grade 8 bolts make decent punches or drifts? I can not find any information as to the carbon content or the steel type of these things but I am hoping to at least make a drift and a small shaping hammer from them.

Any Ideas?

Grade 8 refers to the highest standard strength
achieved in the manufacture of bolts and hex cap screws. Grade 8 bolts are
medium carbon alloy steel, quenched and tempered at a minimum temperature of
800

well i don't know persay if they would make a good punch or any thing else i can tell you you can't weld them if you do i makes them week and they break off i worked at a place were they insisted on welding them against my concern on a pieace of equitment and like i told them they all broke off so then we just ground down the welds and bolted it back to getther and it worked fine

for punches i would just order some h-13 from speedy metals a 12 inch pieace of 1/2 is like 4.50 i think that would be the best thing to use

If the punches and drifts get hot they would be better made from h-13 as stated, I would think that if you can heat treat it close to right then it should work fine for a shaping hammer as would truck Axel or heavy coil spring.