A method of ejecting an elongate blank (57) from a through bore in a die (58) in which one end of the blank (57) has been formed with a head by a tool. Ejector rods (60, 62) are successively moved into the die (58) against the other end of the blank. A first ejector rod (60), short with respect to the length of the die (58), moves the blank (57) a relatively short distance, and then the blank (57) is completely ejected using ejector rod (62) having substantially the same length as the die (58). A control unit (63) is placed in facing relation to the formed head of the elongate blank at a predetermined distance from the formed head. The control unit determines whether the formed head conforms to a predetermined geometrical condition thereof, specifically by forming the control unit with a slot detector (64) having the same shape as a slot formed in the head. After the first ejector rod displaces the formed head towards the control unit, the geometrical condition of the slot is determined by the slot detector (64). Thereafter the blank is displaced from the die by the second ejector rod.